DOHA: The Doha Metro project is one of the most advanced transportation projects in the region for which the most advanced technology has been used and it is a lesson for anyone who tries to obstruct our development process, said Speaker of the Advisory Council H E Ahmed bin Abdullah bin Zaid Al Mahmoud.

“Despite unjust siege imposed on the country, what I saw during the two visits to Doha Metro and the water security mega strategic reservoirs project in Al Thumama is a source of pride and confidence and reaffirms the ability of the people of Qatar to make achievements and turn ambitions into reality,” the Speaker said yesterday during his visit to the two projects.

Al Mahmoud was accompanied with a number of the Council’s members. During their visit they were briefed on the work progress and the stages completed and the delegation learnt about the mechanism of operation and the modern technologies used in the projects.

The completion rate of the project at the site of Al Thumama exceeded 90 percent and ranges in other locations between 85 and 90 percent.

“The water security mega strategic reservoirs project in Al Thumama is the largest of its kind in the world, and will provide for the country’s water needs in the present and future, thus contributing to food security and water development requirements,” Al Mahmoud said.

The total cost of the project is QR14.5bn and will raise the storage capacity to about 1,400 million gallons of water which will cover the country’s needs.

The Speaker hailed the wisdom, the directives and follow-up of Amir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani who adopted a sound and thoughtful planning approach in the conduct of State affairs, and a comprehensive strategic vision as a path to development, modernization, achievement and securing the future for the future generations.

Speaker of the Advisory Council H E Ahmed bin Abdullah bin Zaid Al Mahmoud, with President of Qatar General Electricity and Water (Kahramaa), Engr Essa bin Hilal Al Kuwari; and other officials during the visit by H E Al Mahmoud to the Kahramaa Thumama Reservoir yesterday. Pic: Salim Matramkot  / The Peninsula.
Director of Technical Affairs at Qatar General Electricity and Water Corporation (KAHRAMAA) Eng. Ahmed Nasser Mubarak Al Nasr underlined that the mega strategic reservoirs project is a strategic project for Qatar’s water security, providing long-term safe water in emergency situations, linking the country’s main areas and production sites in the south and north and ensuring water flow and continuity in case of any shortage.

Al Nasr noted that the project worth QR14.5bn and is being implemented in five areas in the country, including Umm Salal, Al Thamama, Rawdat Rashid and Umm Baraka. It is expected to be completed by the end of 2018.

He explained that the total capacity of the project is currently 960 million gallons of water, and will reach 2300 million gallons by the end of the first phase, adding that the capacity will increase with the completion of each stage, while the length of the huge pipes used in the project is 650 kilometers.

He underlined that the unjust siege, which came at a sensitive time in the process of implementation of the project, did not affect the progress of work thanks to the strong relations with the international companies contributing to the implementation, and the confidence of these companies and their keenness on implementing projects in Qatar.

“The companies shipped equipment, pipes and pumps by air and on board the largest cargo aircraft in the world without financial burdens on the state,” Al Nasr added, noting that water projects in Qatar are the largest in the world.

He said that the completion rate of the project in Al Thumama site exceeded 90% and ranges in other locations between 85 and 90%, explaining that all construction work has been completed and the remaining are only complementary.

Al Nasr explained that the project includes 15 water reservoirs, each with a capacity of one million gallons. He highlighted the distinguished role of Qatari cadres in the implementation of the project, including the project manager, engineers and supervisors, which means a full national management of Qatari youth. He noted that Kahramaa completed more than 105 million working hours in the project without injuries.