Siemens to Supply Equipment for Expansion of High-Voltage Grid in Qatar

May 13, 2010
Siemens Energy has received further major orders from Qatar General Water & Electricity Corp., the Doha-based and state-owned utility

Siemens Energy has received further major orders from Qatar General Water & Electricity Corp. (Kahramaa), the Doha-based and state-owned utility. As part of the national project to expand the power distribution network in the state of Qatar, Siemens was awarded a contract named Phase IX. Siemens will supply substations and switchgear valued at EUR510 million as well as associated cables valued at EUR90 million to Kahramaa, which is in charge of generating and distributing the electrical power in the State of Qatar.

“We’re proud that Kahramaa has again opted for field-proven, first-class equipment from Siemens for the expansion of Qatar’s grid. Expansion of the country’s power supply system is a demanding project, for which practically the whole range of our products and systems will be deployed,” said Dr. Udo Niehage, CEO of the Power Transmission Division of Siemens Energy. One of the challenges involved in this project is maintaining power supply while work is being performed on the existing infrastructure. Several substations also have to be erected in parallel with a short space of time.

The order encompasses the supply of 15 turnkey substations for the 400 kV, 220 kV, 132 kV, 66 kV and 11 kV voltage levels, including transformers, control and protection equipment, as well as extension and modification of existing substations. The construction of a new 400-kV substation to connect the Qatar network to the GCC grid is included in the work. Siemens will supply gas-insulated switchgear, protection equipment and equipment for online condition monitoring. The substations will be distributed across the whole country, including the cities of Doha, Dukhan and Maesaieed. Furthermore 400 km of 66- and 132-kV high-voltage cables are part of the order. Completion is scheduled for mid-2012.

Siemens will execute the order as part of the ongoing Qatar Power Transmission System Expansion – Phase IX, for which Siemens has over the last five years installed more than 70 switchgears and approximately 1400 km of high-voltage cable. Siemens has completed all projects to date totaling EUR1.6 billion within the defined schedule. In 2006 Siemens had received the most recent major order from Kahramaa worth EUR700 million (Phase VII).

The State of Qatar, located in the northeast of the Arabian Peninsula on the Arabian Gulf, has developed within the space of a few decades into a modern state with a high standard of living and a resultant increase in power demand. The State on the lower Gulf region with its major oil and gas deposits posts double-digit economic growth rates and is continuously investing in its infrastructure.

Voice your opinion!

To join the conversation, and become an exclusive member of T&D World, create an account today!