HE Dr al-Sada, flanked by al-Ghanim and al-Mohannadi, at the QEWC annual general meeting in Doha last night. PICTURE: Shaji Kayamkulam

The ongoing expansion works of the Ras Abu Fontas (A2) water plant, fully owned by Qatar Electricity and Water Company, will be completed shortly, said HE the Minister for Energy and Industry Dr Mohamed bin Saleh al-Sada, also the QEWC chairman.
In his message to the shareholders at the company’s annual general body meeting yesterday, al-Sada said QEWC had signed contracts for the construction of the plant to generate 36mn gallons daily (MIGD) of water in January 2013. Almost 98% of the work had already been completed, according to the QEWC annual report.
The project, being built at a cost of $504mn, is expected to be completed in June this year.
The minister also  informed that the Integrated Electricity and Water Plant in the Economic Zone, Water Desalination and Treatment Plant at the Ras Laffan Industrial City (RLC) and the expansion of the Ras Abu Fontas Water Desalination Plant (A3) are currently underway.
The company has also begun to study the possibility of entering into domestic, regional and international projects to generate electricity from renewable alternative energy sources like solar and wind power, in addition to coal.
In principle, QEWC endorsed a partnership project with Qatar Petroleum to establish a local company specialised in building solar power plants with a capital of QR500mn.
While speaking about the company’s expansion plans elsewhere in the financial year ended on December 31, 2014, the minister said the Nebras Power Plant, Jordan, where it has a 60% stake, was able to acquire 35% of a solar 52.5MW power generation firm under construction in Maan.
The company in Oman is also carrying out a study to purchase shares in Al-Taeela Station, Abu Dhabi, Carthage Station, Tunisia,  and East Amman Power Station IPP4. It is also reviewing the feasibility for a wind power generation station in Morocco.
QEWC general manager Fahd al-Mohannadi presented the annual report. Vice-chairman Issa Shaheen al-Ghanim was present.
QEWC made a net profit of QR1.53bn last year, up 11% in 2013.
The company’s annual general assembly has also approved the distribution of cash dividends to shareholders, equivalent to 75% of the nominal value of the shares.
Total dividend proposed for 2014 was QR825mn compared to QR750mn in 2013.