Qatar to Construct Solar Power Plant

Qatar plans to start work on a major solar power plant in June this year and the plant, with an initial capacity of 200 megawatts, is expected to be operational by 2020. Siraj Power will start production by April 30, 2020, Energy and Industry Minister Mohamed bin Saleh al-Sada was quoted as saying by Trade Arabia on Tuesday. Sada said Siraj Power will have an initial production capacity of 200 MW, with an expansion plan of up to 500 MW. The two-shareholders of the project, Qatar Electricity and Water Company (QEWC) and Qatar Petroleum, signed a preliminary agreement to develop the plant in 2015. They will provide $500 million of start-up capital for the solar project, with QEWC to hold a 60% stake. According to reports, Qatar plans to build around 1,000 MW of solar power generating capacity to diversify its energy mix away from hydrocarbons.