Satyendra Pathak
doha
QatarEnergy is making significant strides in advancing its energy and production capabilities with two major announcements that underscore its commitment to sustainability and global food security.
Qatar’s largest energy producer has unveiled plans to more than double the country’s solar power production capacity and to establish itself as the world’s leading urea producer through two groundbreaking projects.
QatarEnergy has announced the construction of a new, world-scale solar power plant, which will significantly boost Qatar’s photovoltaic (PV) solar power productioncapacity.
The Dukhan Solar Power Plant, slated to be one of the largest solar facilities globally, will add 2,000 megawatts of capacity, raising Qatar’s total solar production to approximately 4,000 megawatts by 2030. This ambitious project is a cornerstone of Qatar’s Sustainability Strategy and aims to contribute substantially to the nation’s efforts to reducecarbon emissions.
The announcement was made by Minister of State for Energy Affairs and QatarEnergy President and CEO Saad Sherida Al Kaabi during a press conference at the company’s headquarters in Doha. Al Kaabi highlighted the importance of this project in achieving Qatar’s sustainability goals. He emphasised that the Dukhan Solar Power Plant is a crucial initiative for reducing CO2 emissions, with an expected reduction of over 4.7 million tonnes annually.
The new solar facility will be a significant addition to QatarEnergy’s existing solar power portfolio. Currently, the portfolio includes the Al-Kharsaah Solar Power Plant, which began operations in 2022 with a capacity of 800 megawatts, and two ongoing projects in Ras Laffan and Mesaieed industrial cities, collectively adding 875 megawatts of capacity.
With the completion of the Dukhan facility, QatarEnergy’s solar power capacity in Qatar will constitute approximately 30 percent of the nation’s total electrical power production capacity.
This expansion aligns with QatarEnergy’s strategic vision to enhance the sustainability of Qatar’s energy sector and contributes to global efforts to combat climate change. The project also underscores Qatar’s growing role as a leader in renewable energy in the MENA region.
In a parallel move, QatarEnergy has announced plans to build a new world-scale urea production complex in Mesaieed Industrial City. This mega project will more than double Qatar’s current urea production capacity, raising it from approximately 6 million tons per annum to 12.4 million tonnes per annum.
The new facilities will include three ammonia production lines and four new urea production trains. Production from the first of these new urea trains is expected to commence before the end of this decade.
Minister Al Kaabi, during the same press conference, emphasised that this project marks a major expansion of Qatar’s 50-year legacy in ammonia and urea production.
He stated that the new complex will solidify Qatar’s position as the world’s largest urea producer and play a crucial role in enhancing global food security. The increase in production capacity will help meet the growing global demand for fertilizers, which are essential for boosting agricultural output.
Al Kaabi said the construction of four new production lines for urea, a key ingredient in fertilisers, would boost output by 106 percent. He said the first production line would begin before 2030.
The new urea production facilities will leverage the existing infrastructure of Mesaieed Industrial City, including its extensive export port, which is one of the largest fertiliser and petrochemical export facilities in the MENA region. This strategic location will facilitate efficient distribution and export of urea to international markets.
“When we looked at the market for urea in the future, with the growth of humanity today, with 1.5 to 2 billion people that will be joining us in the next 20-30 years, the urea requirement for food production will be exponentially increasing,” Kaabi said.
He also said construction on a project to expand gas production from the North Field was on schedule.
The massive expansion is set to boost QatarEnergy’s overall liquefied natural gas (LNG) production by 85 percent over current levels.
Both projects, Dukhan Solar Power Plant and the new world-scale urea production complex in Mesaieed Industrial City, represent significant milestones in QatarEnergy’s ongoing efforts to diversify its energy portfolio and contribute to global sustainability and food security.
The solar power project will not only enhance Qatar’s renewable energy capacity but also support the country’s climate goals by reducing greenhouse gas emissions. On the other hand, the urea production expansion will establish Qatar as a pivotal player in global agricultural supply chains, ensuring that millions of people around the world have access to the essential nutrients needed for foodproduction.
A Kaabi emphasised that these projects are concrete steps towards achieving Qatar’s strategic goals of economic growth and sustainability while ensuring the balanced management of natural resources.
The new developments in solar power and urea production are set to significantly impact Qatar’s energy landscape and its role on the global stage.
As QatarEnergy moves forward with these projects, Qatar is poised to reinforce its position as a leader in both renewable energy and global agricultural markets, demonstrating its commitment to a sustainable and secure future for all.
