QatarEnergy has unveiled two mega projects to enhance global food and energy security: a project to double Qatar’s urea production capacity in Mesaieed Industrial City and a project to build one of the world’s largest solar power plants in Dukhan. This came during a press conference held yesterday by His Excellency Eng. Saad bin Sherida Al-Kaabi, Minister of State for Energy Affairs, President and CEO of QatarEnergy, during which he announced the decision to develop a world-class complex that will double Qatar’s urea production capacity and play a pivotal role in enhancing global food production and security.
The new mega project includes the construction of three new ammonia production lines that will form the feedstock for four world-class urea fertilizer production lines in Mesaieed Industrial City.
The new facilities, which will be built, will double Qatar’s urea production capacity from about 6 million tons per year currently to 12.4 million tons per year. Production from the first lines of the new urea complex will start before the end of this decade.
Largest exporter of urea
“We have been manufacturing ammonia and urea in Qatar for more than 50 years. Today, we are expanding our expertise and strengthening our position through this unprecedented mega project, which will enable the State of Qatar to become, God willing, the largest exporter of urea in the world, and a decisive factor in supporting food security for hundreds of millions of people around the world, day after day,” said His Excellency Eng. Saad bin Sherida Al-Kaabi.
His Excellency added: “Developing this project in Mesaieed Industrial City will ensure optimal utilization of the advanced infrastructure currently available for petrochemical and fertilizer industries, including the export port, which is considered one of the largest fertilizer and chemical export ports in the Middle East and North Africa region, and for Mesaieed to become the urea production capital of the world.”
Achieving economic growth
His Excellency the Minister of State for Energy Affairs, the President and CEO of QatarEnergy, said: “Today’s announcement is a continuation of our efforts and an embodiment of our commitment to supply the world with the energy products its people need to achieve continued economic growth and to support the energy and food security of the world’s peoples while balancing the growing needs of humanity with the sound management of the natural resources of our beloved country, Qatar.”
His Excellency Minister Al-Kaabi concluded his announcement by extending his thanks and gratitude to His Highness Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, Emir of the country, may God protect him, for his wise leadership and continuous support for the energy sector in the country.
Double solar energy production
Qatar Energy also announced during the conference that it will build a new solar power plant that will double Qatar’s electricity production from solar energy, and will play a key role in reducing carbon emissions as part of the process of transitioning to cleaner energy in a practical and realistic manner.
The new station will increase Qatar’s electricity production from solar energy to about 4,000 megawatts by adding a giant station that is considered one of the largest solar power generation stations in the world, which will be built in the Dukhan area with a production capacity of 2,000 megawatts.
Sustainability Strategy
His Excellency Eng. Saad Sherida Al-Kaabi, Minister of State for Energy Affairs, President and CEO of QatarEnergy, said: “I am pleased to announce that, in line with our sustainability strategy, we will double our solar power generation capacity to approximately 4,000 megawatts by 2030 through a world-class 2,000 megawatt solar power plant in Dukhan.”
His Excellency added: “Solar power plants in Qatar are among the most important current initiatives in the country to reduce carbon dioxide emissions, develop sustainability projects, and diversify sources of electricity production, as these plants will contribute to reducing carbon dioxide emissions by more than 4.7 million tons annually.”
4 solar power stations
QatarEnergy said the new Dukhan plant will be added to QatarEnergy’s portfolio of solar power plants, which includes three other plants: the Al Kharsaah Solar Power Plant, which was launched in 2022 with a capacity of 800 megawatts of electricity, and two other projects currently being implemented by QatarEnergy in the industrial cities of Mesaieed and Ras Laffan with a total production capacity of 875 megawatts, which are expected to start production before the end of this year.
With the addition of the Dukhan Solar Power Plant, QatarEnergy’s solar energy projects will have a capacity of approximately 4,000 megawatts by 2030, which represents approximately 30% of Qatar’s total electricity generation capacity.