Emir of Qatar: Inauguration of Two Solar Projects Part of Transition to Renewable Energy

Emir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani at the inauguration of two strategic solar power projects in Ras Laffan and Mesaieed. (X)
Emir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani at the inauguration of two strategic solar power projects in Ras Laffan and Mesaieed. (X)
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Emir of Qatar: Inauguration of Two Solar Projects Part of Transition to Renewable Energy

Emir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani at the inauguration of two strategic solar power projects in Ras Laffan and Mesaieed. (X)
Emir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani at the inauguration of two strategic solar power projects in Ras Laffan and Mesaieed. (X)

Emir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani inaugurated on Monday two strategic solar power projects in Ras Laffan and Mesaieed with a combined capacity of 875 megawatts (MW).

The projects will more than double Qatar’s solar energy production to 1,675MW of renewable energy.

“The inauguration of two strategic solar power projects in Ras Laffan and Mesaieed comes within the framework of the country's plans to transition to renewable energy, diversify energy sources, and support strategic development projects,” the Emir said.

In a post on his official account on X, Sheikh Tamim wrote, “As part of plans to transition to renewable energy, the Emir inaugurated today two strategic solar power projects in Ras Laffan and Mesaieed,” according to state-run Qatari news agency, QNA.

These plants are also intended to leverage the potential of low-carbon energy in sustainability plans and efforts to mitigate environmental impacts, he added.

Minister of State for Energy Affairs Saad bin Sherida Al Kaabi said the two plants are a fundamental step towards achieving the fourth pillar of the Qatar National Vision 2030, which is environmental management to ensure harmony and consistency between economic and social development and environmental protection.

“It also achieves one of the goals of Qatar's energy sustainability strategy, which is to generate more than 4,000 megawatts of renewable energy by 2030,” said Al Kaabi, who is also President and CEO of QatarEnergy.

These plants are expected to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by about 4.7 million tons annually.

The two stations, he said, along with the Al-Kharsaah plant, will play a significant role in meeting the country's electricity demand, contributing about 15% of the total peak electricity demand.



OPEC Sees Robust Oil Demand in Third Quarter

The Secretary-General of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), Haitham Al Ghais (X)
The Secretary-General of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), Haitham Al Ghais (X)
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OPEC Sees Robust Oil Demand in Third Quarter

The Secretary-General of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), Haitham Al Ghais (X)
The Secretary-General of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), Haitham Al Ghais (X)

The Secretary-General of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), Haitham Al Ghais, said the group anticipates exceptionally strong demand for oil in the third quarter of this year, with only a narrow gap expected between supply and consumption in the months that follow.

According to Russia’s state news agency on Monday, Al Ghais shared these assessments with reporters on the sidelines of last week’s OPEC seminar in Vienna. He indicated that the organization foresees demand rising by 1.3 million barrels per day on an annual basis in 2025, driven largely by a resilient global economy.

He explained that this outlook suggests a particularly robust increase in consumption during the third quarter. Demand is also projected to stay healthy into the fourth quarter, while the difference between production and usage should remain minimal. Al Ghais noted that this dynamic is among the key factors encouraging the alliance of eight oil-producing countries to consider raising output once again.

OPEC’s latest oil market outlook, published last Thursday, forecasts that global demand will average 105 million barrels per day this year. The report predicts demand will climb further to 106.3 million barrels per day in 2026 and reach 111.6 million barrels per day by 2029.

Meanwhile, eight members of the broader OPEC+ coalition - which includes Russia among other allies - are moving to phase out production cuts that have been in place for years to help stabilize the market.

Five sources told Reuters that OPEC+ producers are leaning toward agreeing on another production increase in September.