Ras Laffan Power Company Ltd (RLPC), a subsidiary of AES Corporation, has formally opened the first independent power and desalination plant in Qatar in late November 2004.
The plant is a 756 MW natural-gas-fired power generation and 40 MIGD (million imperial gallons per day) water desalination plant located in Ras Laffan Industrial City.
The new facilities help meet Qatar’s growing needs for electricity and water to fuel the country’s rapidly expanding economy. The new power plant is expected to meet 30 per cent of Qatar’s peak power demand and the desalination plant is estimated to increase the country’s potable water supply by 40 per cent. Together, they will serve approximately 200,000 people.
Shaikh Hamad Bin Khalifa Al Thani, the Emir of Qatar, inaugurated the plant during a ceremony in Ras Laffan Industrial City. AES president and CEO Paul Hanrahan attended the ceremony along with other members of the Qatari royal family, ministers, members of the advisory council, senior government officials, diplomats and industry executives.
“As Qatar continues to expand economically, the country needs new sources of electricity and water to help fuel this growth,” said Hanrahan during the plant’s inauguration ceremonies. “Ras Laffan’s new facilities help ensure a reliable source of these essential goods and we’re proud to help Qatar continue to grow and prosper.”
Shahzad Qasim, AES senior vice president for generation in the Middle East, said: “We are grateful for the cooperation and support of the government of Qatar in helping to make this important project a success. This joint venture project, including local, regional and international companies, represents the cornerstone of private sector participation in the country’s infrastructure development.”
FISIA/Italimpianti and Enelpower, the EPC contractors for the RLPC, developed the power plant and water desalination project.
Since the control systems for both the power and desalination plants were to be common, FISIA and Enelpower jointly chose the systems. Ovation expert control system was selected for its capability to easily integrate large quantities of I/O, its vast experience with power plant applications, and its cost-effective solution.
The power plant system, consisting of two trains of 2x1 combined cycles, was seamlessly integrated with the four desalination plants, resulting in a large hardwired I/O of over 15,000 points. Software interfaces integrated four GE Mark VI turbine controllers with two Franco Tosi DEH systems. Emerson provided the project management, functional design, system software design, start-up, commissioning, and engineering services. The scope also includes the Ovation load computer, which will optimize the entire power generation process by selecting an operating mode that most effectively meets current power demands and steam demands for the desalination units.
Ras Laffan is a joint venture between AES, Qatar Electricity and Water Company, Qatar Petroleum (QP) and Gulf Investment Corporation (GIC). AES manages and operates the plant, which has been in service since May 2004.
The project sells power and water under a 25-year contract to Qatar General Electricity and Water Corporation (Kahramaa), a state-owned transmission and distribution company. Payment obligations are backed by a guarantee from Qatar. In addition, the project has a secure long-term (25-year) supply agreement for natural gas and seawater with Qatar Petroleum.
AES is a leading global power company, with 2003 revenues of $8.4 billion. AES operates in 27 countries, generating 44,000 MW of electricity through 111 power facilities and delivers electricity through 17 distribution companies.
