Implementing vital projects to sustain the electricity and water sectors
In 2020, the Qatar General Electricity and Water Corporation "KAHRAMAA" continued its journey on the road to distinction, seeking, since its inception to the present day, to consolidate its position as a national institution that supports urban development and economic growth.
It has strengthened its operations with various water and electricity projects to ensure the sustainability of its services, in order to dynamically contribute to growth and to overcome the challenges posed by the coronavirus pandemic.
KAHRAMAA uses the latest global technologies to manage its electricity and water networks and focuses on delivering high quality services to its customers, who amounted to 184,229 customers by the end of last year. The total number of meters reached 817,790 meters, including 432,980 electricity meters, and 384,398 water meters, compared to 773,999 in 2019. This prompted KAHRAMAA to implement more projects to meet current and future needs.
KAHRAMAA sought to increase its production capacity, improve transmission and distribution networks, and manage the water sector in an innovative and advanced manner, in par with health, environmental and public safety requirements. This has been done in order to meet the increasing demand, support its strategic reserves, and safeguard its water security, as the average consumption in 2020 reached about 394 million gallons per day, compared to 379 million gallons in 2019.
To keep up with the demand, KAHRAMAA implemented a number of strategic projects to improve its water production, which was estimated in 2020 by 690 million cubic meters, while the storage capacity reached 2204 million gallons, compared to 1678 million gallons in 2019, an increase of 31%.
Throughout the year, KAHRAMAA handled 6,210 complaints, addressed 336 invisible leaks, undertook preventive maintenance of 45 water facilities, developed 59 new water harvest wells and rehabilitated 119, and inaugurated 236 km of new networks.
Furthermore, and to improve the performance of the network, 269 km of transmission pipelines of different diameters as well as mega reservoirs were inaugurated, in addition to the inauguration of a water reservoir and a pumping station in Lusail, with a capacity of 6.6 million gallons, to improve pumping and increase storage capacity. A pumping station was also inaugurated at Rawdat Rashid, with a pumping capacity estimated at 62 million gallons per day, and 186,500 meters of network maps were reviewed and approved and stored in the GIS database. Moreover, 307 km of transmission pipelines were inspected, using the Smart Ball system for leak detection, compared to 69 km inspected in 2019.
KAHRAMAA has maintained its outstanding drinking water quality in recent years, achieving a rate of more than 99% of biological conformity and 95% compliance to WHO Guidelines. In 2020, samples were collected for water quality analysis from 12,720 points including production stations, reservoirs, and the distribution network. 826 approvals were issued for material specifications related to water networks and supplied by contractors for projects implementation, and 1117 sites were inspected to ensure material compliance with approved specifications, before being used by contractors in the implementation of new networks.
KAHRAMAA was able to overcome the extraordinary situation imposed by the coronavirus pandemic with the least possible impact on the availability of the essential materials for the power grid. It signed contracts to increase the strategic reserves from two months to a year, increased the number of suppliers, developed materials and cable specifications, reviewed its standards based on an analytical study of the current situation and future requirements, and signed two 3-year contracts to supply cables on demand basis at a value of 1.015 billion Qatari Riyals.
A giant leap has also been marked in electricity production, thanks to the work carried out to improve the efficiency of power stations and reinforce the sector by tapping into clean and renewable energy. Taking advantage of the geographical location of the State of Qatar, KAHRAMAA began producing electricity using solar panels, and signed agreements for the Al-Kharsaah Large Scale Solar PV Power Plant to produce electricity using photovoltaic cells, at a cost of QR 1.7bn, in order to provide electricity for the urban and economic boom, which reached a maximum load of 8,600 MW in 2020, compared to 8,475 MW in 2019.
To offset the increase in load, KAHRAMAA inaugurated 28 power stations, including 12 mega stations for large-scale customers and 13 for the transmission network, in addition to 19 underground cable circuits and 2 antenna lines connected to control centers, at a cost of more than QR 2.5bn.
It also inaugurated a project to store electrical energy using batteries and connect it to a substation connected to the Nuaija station at a voltage of 11 kV. KAHRAMAA also inaugurated stations and transmission lines feeding the Metro network, and 20 transmission stations, including Al Suwaidi Super Substation /132kV, which represents an alternative source for feeding Al-Bidda Metro Station and serving 3 vital areas, with a voltage of 400 and a cost of QR 400mn.
A total of 856 new distribution stations began operations, in addition to 39 stations to serve the World Cup stadiums. As the last of its stations began operations, KAHRAMAA also inaugurated 1,396 distribution transformers, laid 1,818 km of medium/low voltage cables, and 225 km of high and ultra-high voltage cables.
Preventive maintenance was carried out for the protection systems of 8,756 covered and main stations, and the protection systems of 725 covered stations were prepared and inspected for operation. 6,529 feeder battery for the protection devices of distribution stations underwent maintenance, 373 transmission transformers and 1,293 disconnectors underwent maintenance, and RTV insulators for all overhead line circuits were installed by 100%.
In addition, 1,462 medium-voltage electrical equipment were rehabilitated and restored to service, high-voltage switches were replaced for 186 covered and outdoor stations, 152 old and suspended transformers were replaced, preventive maintenance was carried out for 629 indoor and outdoor stations, maintenance of 196 km of medium and low voltage overhead lines was carries out, and insulators of 2,150 overhead lines underwent maintenance and cleaning.
All of this accomplished in addition to the provision of 701 electrical generators to secure temporary electrical power during maintenance and emergency situations, the maintenance of 498 distribution stations, the completion of status monitoring for 6,113 other stations, and taking corrective measures to avoid faults before they occur in 487 distribution stations.
During the summer of 2020, KAHRAMAA succeeded in reducing the number of main power stations with loads exceeding the design capacity from 15 to 9, despite the 6% increase in the maximum network load compared to last year, and that was thanks to the 65 strengthening projects.
It also started installing energy meters in all major stations to record added consumptions, and a total of 369 meters are being installed in 185 stations. KAHRAMAA is also working on completing the connection of all underground substations to the Vodafone network as a permanent solution to communication problems.
KAHRAMAA also launched a new system for monitoring network variables, established a temporary reserve distribution control center for use in emergency conditions, especially with the spread of the Coronavirus pandemic, and found appropriate solutions to monitor and control the network. It continued its implementation of the strategy for rationing the use of natural gas, and the cut down amounted to 1.7 million gas units, valued at QR 17.28mn.
This led to a 1.4% decrease in the total number of medium voltage faults recorded during 2020 compared to 2019, and to an improvement in the response rate to faults index, as the average response time by emergency offices reached 55 minutes, while the average repair time reached 1.40 hours, registering a significant improvement and unprecedented levels in the history of the electrical system at the level of the distribution network.
Third-party faults of medium voltage connectors were also reduced by 3.5% compared to 2019. The faults of medium voltage connectors terminations connected to overhead lines were reduced by 28.5%, and the total number of faults recorded during 2020 decreased by 11.29% compared to last year.
KAHRAMAA launched the Distribution Projects Management Program and succeeded in converting the procedures and correspondence of the Electricity Network Planning Department from paper to electronic, and in updating 10,000 meters that registered a difference between electricity and water meters. The latter were 25,000 meters with differences and now are 15,587 that are being investigated in the system.
This contributed to uninterrupted power supply and the improvement of power grid operations in general. This is evidenced by maintaining the rates of load loss and system minute loss (SML) in the transmission network, and by the decrease in the average of power interruptions for each customer, which recorded 0.1672 average number of interruptions per customer with a 12% improvement compared to the previous year. The average interruption duration reached 11.66 minutes per customer, with a 26% improvement compared to 2019. These are unprecedented levels recorded by the distribution network in the history of the electricity system.
The net savings achieved as a result of corrective measures carried out in stations, cables, overhead lines, and distribution management amounted to QR 93.04mn, while the net savings resulting from the work of the electrical equipment monitoring unit amounted to QR 5.37mn.
As of mid-November 2020, the number of new customers connected to the power grid reached 6,134 customers, while 3,200 new properties were connected to the water distribution network. KAHRAMAA reviewed 6,207 requests for modification of existing water and electricity services, about 3,387 requests for service connection, 10,035 requests for electricity and water licenses, 892 requests for the delivery of electricity and water to Ezab, and completed 9,032 inspection requests for internal water and electricity installations.
KAHRAMAA has also succeeded in automating all its services and providing them to all its customers within a modern template, and with modern technologies. Its application and website provide a variety of smart services and allow customers to submit requests and complete them automatically without the need to go in person to KAHRAMAA’s branches, this reflects the resolute endeavors to save valued customers’ time and effort.
In order to serve this approach and keep pace with the great strides it has made, KAHRAMAA has updated its website. The website also came in line with the requirements of the e-government and in support of KAHRAMAA’s strategy that aims at improving and developing services to facilitate communication with customers and provide them with excellent and distinguished services. The website offers 36 services, including 31 for customers, 4 for consultants and contractors, and one for businesses.
KAHRAMAA applies a pioneering customer relationship management and billing system that provides a comprehensive work approach using the best world-class customer service systems, aiming at simplifying procedures for its customers and excelling in their service.
It has also implemented numerous electronic projects, among which were smart meters, as an agreement was signed with Vodafone to install 600,000 meters, and these services have garnered attention and admiration, especially among customers.
A five-year plan to expand transmission networks was prepared for the period from 2020-2025, and plans were drawn up for projects related to major customers and to the infrastructures to be installed in the lands of Qatari citizens. Other projects were also put in place for discharging power from the two solar power stations and generating new energy.
KAHRAMAA provides a safe and healthy work environment. No occupational diseases were recorded during 2020, and 22 million work hours were completed by KAHRAMAA and its contractors without lost time injury (LTI), in addition to successfully managing the Coronavirus pandemic in all its operations, including 112 projects and contracts with 11,000 employees on board. The number of contractors permits issued to work on the underground cables and overhead lines reached 6,563 permits, and around 489 warnings were issued for violators of KAHRAMAA’s guidelines and regulations. This contributed to savings amounting to QR 35mn.
In line with industrial safety standards, and to provide high-quality electricity services, 201 audits of safety operations were conducted up to November 26 at various sites and stations, and 8 safety presentations were made to KAHRAMAA employees and contractors with the aim of enhancing safety awareness among network workers. 21 investigations related to breakdown incidents were launched to prevent their recurrence and similar faults in the future and to take punitive measures against those responsible.
- Qatarization and Personnel Training and Development
KAHRAMAA is moving forward with its Qatarization operations, achieving a 44% Qatarization rate of the total number of employees, distributed as follows: 6% work in the water sector, 10% in the electricity sector, and 28% in the services sector.
It is also implementing the "KAHRAMAA Excellence" program in cooperation with the Qatar Leadership Center. The first cohort of leadership graduates included 50 employees, while the total training courses carried out during the year amounted to 421 courses that benefited 1487 employees including 1290 Qataris.
KAHRAMAA has succeeded in developing cooling services, bringing the number of district cooling projects to 43 stations, with a cooling capacity of more than one million refrigeration tons, 21 of which use treated water and other water sources.
The net savings resulting from the use of treated water was estimated at about QR 71mn in 2019, whereby the total consumption of treated water in district cooling projects amounted to (8.2 m3). The sale of treated water led to an increase in financial returns by approximately QR 2mn, and to achieving sustainability of water resources.
As for the savings in electricity demand and energy distribution costs, they reached 544 million by the end of 2019, and the total savings in natural gas used in generating electricity reached 542 million, while the total reduction in greenhouse gas emissions amounted to 630,000 metric tons equivalent, and thus, the financial return for reducing CO2 emissions totaled QR 72mn.
Central cooling services provide 40% of the total demand for electricity and 98% of potable water, compared to conventional cooling, noting that this technology has been applied in the World Cup stadiums. It is expected that the total financial savings resulting from the reduction in power generation and distribution in natural gas consumption will equal QR 15bn by 2030.
- Memoranda and Cooperation Agreements
To enhance its institutional and social partnerships, KAHRAMAA signed a memorandum with the National Service Academy of the Ministry of Defense regarding training its recruits and exchanging experiences in the fields of training and development. KAHRAMAA will provide opportunities to train recruits, employees and members of the Academy, in addition to implementing joint projects and initiatives in several areas.
On the other hand, KAHRAMAA participated with 3 worksheets in the virtual edition of the GCC Power 2020 Conference organized by GCC CIGRE, during which it reviewed its experience in isolating the influence of external noise and repairing large capacity transformers.
KAHRAMAA also participated in the Governing Board Meeting of the Regional Center on Urban Water Management (RCUWM), held virtually under the auspices of UNESCO, to discuss aspects of cooperation in the water sector. It also took part in the extraordinary meeting of the undersecretaries of the Ministries of Energy of Electricity and Water of the GCC member states to discuss the Coronavirus pandemic. In the International Conference on Islamic Finance, it presented a paper on Qatar’s achievements in the field of sustainability technologies, as well as in the conference on promoting renewable and hydrogen energy. It further participated in 3 local exhibitions: Build Your House, AGRITECH, and Qatar Sustainability Week.
- Tarsheed: National Program for Conservation and Energy Efficiency
Through the National Program for Conservation and Energy Efficiency "Tarsheed", KAHRAMAA seeks to achieve the sustainability goals in electricity, water, and renewable energy efficiency, based on QNV 2030 and the National Strategy 2018-2022, and within the framework of the 17 SDGs, especially Goal 6 “Clean Water and Sanitation, Goal 7 “Affordable and Clean Energy”, and Goal 11 “Sustainable Cities and Communities”.
Tarsheed launched its second phase in 2018 under the slogan "Towards Sustainability", which extends to 2022. In 2020, the program realized many achievements, all of which contribute to facing the climate change crisis despite the boom in the country and the accompanying increase in demands for electricity and water.
This year, KAHRAMAA also worked on improving the efficiency of electrical and water appliances and equipment, updating its regulations, preparing a consumer guide for air-conditioning devices, finalizing its specifications and energy efficiency posters, preparing a consumer guide for home lighting, and updating its water faucets specifications.
It has sought to reduce harmful carbon emissions and combat climate change by diversifying energy sources and encouraging the use of electric vehicles; it has set standards for solar photovoltaic systems; it is in the process of operating bus stops in Abu Hamour and KAHRAMAA Park with renewable energy; and it is encouraging farmers and the residential sector to adopt these applications.
It contributed to establishing an infrastructure for the use of electric vehicles; put forward a proposal for a law regulating these vehicles, noting that tenders were issued and awarded to locate, determine tariffs, and manage charging stations, and they will be completed next February; launched a guidebook for charging stations on KAHRAMAA’s website; completed the final phase of the project for the installation of the first photovoltaic station for energy storage and charging electric vehicles with a capacity of 72 kW produced from PV panels, an energy storage system with a battery capacity of 170 kWh, a high-speed charging unit for electric vehicles with a capacity of 100 kW; launched tender GTC 1011-2020 for the installment of 100 charging stations; provided technical services for the completion of 10 charging stations in Qatari Diar; and signed an agreement to complete 10 fast charging stations in Lusail, as part of a plan to install 30 charging stations.
KAHRAMAA made great efforts to improve the efficiency of electricity and water use, with the aim of achieving efficient gas use and financial savings, reducing emissions, and decreasing their consumption in all sectors. For this purpose, it has partnered with Katara, Qatari Diar and Qatar Children's Museum, and has installed 50,000 water saving faucets in 20 government agencies and 20 mosques, thus saving 0.22 million cubic meters of water. Now, KAHRAMAA is implementing a project to recycle ablution water for use in cleaning and irrigation.
Tarsheed 22 initiatives are being implemented in different schools in the country to help reduce their consumption of electricity and water, by replacing non-energy saving bulbs with energy efficient ones, and installing water saving faucets, smart meters and renewable energy technologies.
In recognition of its role in reducing occupational accidents, KAHRAMAA was awarded the ROSPA International Award by the British Royal Society for Prevention of Accidents, which is an association specializing in awareness services in the field of occupational health and safety and has been working in this field for 100 years.
The award reflects KAHRAMAA’s determination and commitment to apply the highest standards of occupational health for its employees, customers, and contractors, in addition to the rigorous security and safety requirements implemented in all its facilities.
KAHRAMAA also won two international awards in two different categories of the Global Good Governance Awards (3G) conferred by Cambridge IFA, the first being the Best Public Sector Program Award in the field of sustainability for Tarsheed, and the second the Most Innovative Environmental Education Award 2020 for KAHRAMAA’s Awareness Park.
At the Qatar Sustainability Summit, KAHRAMAA won the Award for Excellence in Climate Action, for a photovoltaic station project to charge electric cars, and at Qatar Sustainability Week, it won the Best Sustainability Initiative for the "Steam-Produced Electric Power Transmission" project that aims to reduce harmful carbon emissions by 100,000 tons annually.
KAHRAMAA’s water quality laboratory has been winning the ISO certification for 8 consecutive years and succeeded in achieving the new version of accreditation for laboratories ISO/IEC 17025: 2017 under the number 3265.01. KAHRAMAA also won the award for Best E-Services in the GCC for the category of Outstanding Performance Award for Customer Services Departments.
Finally, it achieved a new world record by entering the Guinness Book of Records for the Largest Drinking Water Storage Tank in the World, for the Water Security Mega Reservoirs Project.
KAHRAMAA maintained its outstanding credit rating in 2020, at a grade of A1, for the second year in a row, and this assessment which was granted by Moody's reflects the strong financial and operational performance for the current and coming periods.
During the year, KAHRAMAA audited its interim financial statements for the first nine months ending on September 30, 2020, achieving QR 1.4bn in profits. It also audited the financial statements of the fiscal year ending on December 31, 2019, achieving QR 2.3bn profits.
To further raise the efficiency of its financial performance, KAHRAMAA launched an electronic supplier invoice submission system through its website, which allows suppliers to track payments, in addition to automating bank transfers through the SEMI HOST TO HOST feature and automating the procedures for requesting and receiving letters of guarantee.
In the framework of facilitating financial dealings with customers, other service fees (such as service connection fees) have been added to the list of services that can be paid through Ooredoo self-service machines, in addition to automating the request for electricity disconnection and final bill settlement, and the procedures for issuing major customers’ bills. The Qatari citizens exemption feature has been added to KAHRAMAA’s application, and two agreements were signed with the Commercial Bank to provide bill-collection services for major and direct debit.
KAHRAMAA finished preparing several draft laws, sent them to the Council of Ministers, and responded to inquiries related to them, namely: a draft law on district cooling works and services, a draft law organizing the charges of electricity consumption, the draft national water law and its executive regulations, and a draft law organizing the drilling of groundwater wells.
It also discussed the amendment of Law No. 11 of 1979 on the Protection of the Electrical and Water Public Installations, won 6 lawsuits, made efforts in friendly and judicial collections from bill defaulters, and looked into cases of destruction of public electrical and water installations, as well as amicable collections for bounced checks amounting to 6,838,165 Riyals.
