Qatari Newspapers Editorials

Doha, October 19 (QNA) - The inauguration of the Al Kharsaah Solar Power Plant by HH the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani on Tuesday topped the newspapers' interest, covering it in their Wednesday editorials. The newspapers expressed their pride in Qatar's progress as a leading country in the field of environmental protection and combating climate change and global warming, transforming its vision and continuing endeavors to protect the environment and combat climate change, which are a threat to nature, health, and the economy across the world, into a long-term plan aligned with the country's development goals. The newspapers indicated that the Al Kharsaah Plant, which covers 10 square kilometers and includes more than 1.8 million solar panels, will provide 10 percent of the country's peak electricity demand. The plant was designed according to the world's latest technologies, where robots are used to enhance the plant's efficiency. The newspapers unanimously agreed that the Al Kharsaah Plant is a pioneering national achievement and an advanced model for the transition towards clean energy. The plant represents one of the strategic initiatives to reduce gas and thermal emissions in the world and will contribute to the reduction of carbon dioxide emissions estimated at one million tons annually. Al-Sharq newspaper said in its editorial that the Kharsaah Solar Power Plant, which inaugurated by HH the Amir on Tuesday, is a pioneering national achievement and an advanced model for the transition towards clean energy. The plant represents one of the strategic initiatives to reduce gas and thermal emissions in the world and will contribute to achieving a reduction in carbon dioxide emissions estimated at one million tons annually. The plant also constitutes a vital hub for meeting local energy supply needs and achieving strategic goals, which include producing clean energy towards a responsible transition to low-carbon energy. Al Kharsaah Solar Power Plant is a strategic project with international standards, and is the first in the State of Qatar. It is one of the largest plants of its kind in the region in terms of size and capacity, covering an area of more than 10 square kilometers, and including more than 1.8 million solar panels that utilize sun-tracking technology to follow the movement of the sun to ensure the most efficient use of land and to maximize daily production of the plant, the paper said. Al-Sharq concluded by saying that today, Qatar is heading to enter a new era in the field of energy production, keeping pace with the latest global trends in this sector by using advanced and innovative technologies. This project boosts the solar energy investments, doubling the value of its total solar energy projects from QR1.7 billion to about QR 4 billion after announcing that investments worth QR 2.3 billion towards Mesaieed and Ras Laffan plants this year. In turn, Al-Watan newspaper said that HH the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani inaugurated Al Kharsaah Solar Power Plant in Al Kharsaah on Tuesday morning. HH the Amir toured the plant's main control room and listened to an explanation of its role in meeting the local needs of energy supply and QatarEnergy's strategic goals for sustainability, which include producing clean energy towards a responsible transition to low-carbon energy. The plant covers an area of more than 10 square kilometers and includes more than 1.8 million solar panels, providing 10 percent of the country's peak electricity demand, the paper said, adding that the project also includes the latest solutions in solar energy technology such as the use of double panels and sun-tracking technology to follow the movement of the sun, the paper added. In conclusion, Al-Watan stressed that the Al Kharsaah Plant is a major step on the path to increasing reliance on renewable energy. This project comes as part of the country’s efforts to preserve energy and the environment, ensuring a balance between benefitting the current generation and future generations. This also comes in line with Qatar National Vision 2030 to diversify the sources of energy production, increase reliance on renewable energy and enhance its efficiency. Qatari daily Al-Raya highlighted the opening of Al Kharsaah Solar Power Plant, saying that the State of Qatar has the right to be proud of being at the forefront of countries that seek to reduce carbon emissions, save the planet and confront global warming. The State of Qatar has established itself as a pioneering country in the field of protecting the environment and confronting climate change and global warming. Its vision and continuous efforts to protect the environment and addressing climate change that threatens the nature, health and economy across the world have been transformed into a long-term plan in harmony with the State's development goals, Al-Raya stressed. The paper pointed to the increasing attention paid by the State of Qatar to the issue of protecting the environment which is facing an unprecedent challenge imposed by the global warming that led to climate change. Therefore, the State has adopted clear and significant steps to reduce carbon emissions and realize the transition into clean energy through building a sustainable green economy in parallel with ensuring clean energy supplies to consumers around the world. The State of Qatar has succeeded in making great achievements at the level of reducing carbon emissions by increasing its use of renewable and clean energy. In this context, the State has been keen on promoting its investments in the field of producing electricity from solar energy, doubling the value of its total solar energy projects from QR1.7 billion to about QR4 billion. The State announced yesterday pumping QR2.3 billion investments into the solar power plants in Mesaieed and Ras Laffan during the current year, in reference to the government policies and plans aimed at diversifying energy sources by encouraging investment in renewable energy, Al-Raya concluded. Meanwhile, Qatari English daily The Peninsula underlined that the State of Qatar has taken another step towards a sustainable future as HH the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani inaugurated Al Kharsaah Solar Power Plant yesterday, which will add 800MW of environment-friendly electricity into the national grid, thus reducing the carbon footprint significantly. Under its editorial titled "Greener Sustainable Future", The Peninsula noted that Al Kharsaah Plant is one of the largest in the region in terms of size and capacity. It occupies an area of 10sqkm and has more than 1,800,000 solar panels and uses the latest technology to achieve maximum production efficiency. This solar plant will also cut greenhouse gas emissions by millions of tones every year. This plant will help Qatar’s efforts toward achieving one of the sustainability targets of having 5 GW of solar-generated power by 2035. The paper also highlighted the inauguration of Lusail Bus Depot yesterday, which is believed to be the world’s largest electric bus depot, which relies on solar energy for power to charge the electric buses and feed the buildings. It has installed some 11,000 PV solar panels to generate 4 MW of power daily. Qatar has made tremendous progress in making the future greener and leaving the environment healthier for future generations by adopting various steps like promoting renewable energy and changing the transport fleet from fossil fuels to electric at a very fast pace, the paper added. The State of Qatar is already playing a lead role in Paris Agreement’s goal to limit global warming to well below 2 degrees Celsius by increasing the production of LNG as it represents an excellent alternative to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by oil and coal. Using more LNG in industry and transportation around the world will help mitigate, to an extent, the negative impact of other fossil fuels, The Peninsula concluded. (QNA)