Doha, June 08 (QNA) - The Shura Council on Monday convened its regular weekly session in Tamim bin Hamad Hall at its headquarters, chaired by HE Speaker Hassan bin Abdullah Al Ghanim.

As the session began, HE the Secretary-General Nayef bin Mohammed Al Mahmoud read out the agenda, with the council approving the minutes of its previous session.

The session was attended by HE President of the Qatar General Electricity and Water Corporation (Kahramaa), Eng. Abdulla bin Ali Al Theyab along with a number of specialists from the corporation, to review several topics related to the electricity and water sectors, the Qatar National Renewable Energy Strategy, and the corporation's plans in the areas of supply security, network efficiency, consumption rationalization, digital transformation, and subscriber services.

HE the Speaker of the Shura Council and Their Excellencies the members welcomed HE the President of Kahramaa and commended the pivotal role Kahramaa has played in providing electricity and water services, developing transmission and distribution networks, and enhancing supply efficiency in a manner that keeps abreast of the nation's urban and economic growth.

In this context, HE Speaker Hassan bin Abdullah Al Ghanim, lauded the attention the State, under the directives of HH the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani, accords to developing the infrastructure of the electricity and water sectors, boosting the efficient use of resources, and entrenching sustainability as one of the core pillars for achieving comprehensive development in line with the objectives of Qatar National Vision 2030.

His Excellency underscored the importance of the topics under discussion due to their direct bearing on the lives of citizens and residents, as well as on the requirements of economic and urban development.

He noted that ensuring the security of electricity and water supplies, enhancing service quality, upgrading billing and meter-reading systems, and expanding awareness and conservation programs constitute core pillars for raising the quality of public services and ensuring the optimal use of resources.

For his part, HE the President of Kahramaa, delivered a presentation highlighting the corporation's principal plans and areas of work in the electricity and water sectors, in addition to the targets of the Qatar National Renewable Energy Strategy through 2030.

HE Eng. Al Theyab discussed Kahramaa's role in the electricity sector, noting its persistent efforts to develop transmission and distribution networks to meet rising demand for electricity and connect the national grid to a range of vital projects across the country.

He added that the networks are managed and monitored around the clock through control centers, a measure that further burnishes service efficiency and continuity.

The presentation also addressed the readiness of the electricity grid and emergency plans through an interconnected operational framework comprising monitoring and control systems, emergency centers, and specialized technical teams, thereby facilitating swift responses to faults and unexpected outages and ensuring the restoration of services in coordination with the relevant authorities.

On renewable energy, His Excellency explained that the Qatar National Renewable Energy Strategy seeks to set in motion the development of a sustainable and cost-effective energy system, increase the use of renewable energy sources in electricity generation, and preserve the strength and reliability of the grid.

He pointed out that the strategy aims to raise the share of renewable energy in the energy mix and bolster renewable energy generation capacity by 2030, with a particular focus on solar photovoltaic energy, alongside encouraging distributed solar-generation solutions.

His Excellency also addressed current and future solar-energy projects, describing them as an important step in supporting the State's efforts to reduce emissions and enhance environmental sustainability. He stressed the importance of integrating renewable-energy sources with highly efficient conventional generation to maintain grid stability and meet growing electricity demand.

With regard to the water sector, His Excellency reviewed Kahramaa's efforts in managing water transmission and distribution around the clock, developing water networks and major transmission lines, and reducing network losses through the replacement of aging networks and the deployment of modern technologies, in addition to expanding the installation of smart meters.

In a related context, the presentation addressed the management of strategic water reserves, pumping stations, and reservoirs, as well as the role of the National Water Control Center in efficiently monitoring the water system, including pumping, storage, transmission, distribution, and water-quality monitoring, in addition to preparedness for emergencies related to water quality and safety.

HE Al Theyab noted that Kahramaa accords special importance to water quality through adherence to local and international health and environmental standards and the operation of automated water-quality monitoring systems at reservoirs and pumping stations, thereby ensuring continuous oversight of potable water supplies.

He also reviewed groundwater-resource management and the corporation's efforts to protect and regulate their use, as well as measures to enhance water security through projects aimed at rehabilitating and developing water-harvesting wells and initiatives related to underground water storage, all of which support preparedness for extreme emergency situations.

The presentation further addressed the State's district-cooling services policy and its role in supporting energy-efficiency efforts, in addition to the regulations governing electrical connections and water installations in various buildings and facilities, as well as monitoring their implementation in accordance with approved standards and requirements.

Under the subscriber-services axis, His Excellency went on the corporation's billing policy, the efficiency and accuracy of meter readings, and proposed solutions to minimize errors, alongside Kahramaa's efforts to advance digital services and smart systems, thereby facilitating procedures and enhancing the quality of services provided to subscribers.

Al Theyab also outlined the corporation's plans for awareness and educational campaigns aimed at rationalizing electricity and water consumption, as well as its media plan to educate subscribers on safety and security requirements, installation standards, and the measures and requirements associated with electricity and water services and connection points.

The presentation additionally highlighted partnership with the private sector in electricity, water, and renewable-energy projects, emphasizing the importance of such partnerships in supporting project implementation, enhancing efficiency, and developing infrastructure in a manner consistent with national sustainability objectives and efforts to diversify energy sources. 

Having weighed in on, Their Excellencies the members of the Shura Council, commended the efforts undertaken by Kahramaa to develop electricity and water services and further enhance network efficiency, underscoring the importance of continuing to invest in infrastructure to keep up with the urban and population growth the nation is witnessing, while ensuring the sustainability of services and raising their efficiency.

Their Excellencies also stressed the importance of expanding renewable-energy projects, particularly solar energy, in a manner that contributes to diversifying energy sources and achieving the nation's environmental sustainability objectives.

They hailed the corporation's efforts in implementing the Qatar National Renewable Energy Strategy and strengthening the readiness of the electricity grid to accommodate new and renewable energy sources.

The members further discussed the district-cooling services policy and the importance of expanding such services in areas experiencing high urban density, given their pivotal role in enhancing energy-efficiency levels and rationalizing resource consumption, in addition to the importance of continuing to develop the relevant regulatory frameworks.

They emphasized the need to intensify awareness programs on the rational use of electricity and water and to entrench a community culture centered on preserving natural resources, while advancing media messages directed at subscribers regarding the safe and responsible use of services.

With regard to the water sector, Their Excellencies underscored the importance of safeguarding the marine environment and curbing sources of pollution that may affect the quality of seawater used in desalination operations.

They further stressed the importance of continuing efforts aimed at bolstering water security, managing water resources and strategic water reserves, and developing monitoring and follow-up systems to ensure the sustainability of supplies under various conditions.

The members also highlighted the importance of raising the efficiency of the billing and meter-reading system, enhancing the accuracy of services provided to subscribers, and developing mechanisms for receiving and responding to feedback, thereby improving the beneficiary experience, reducing errors, and facilitating procedures.

In addition, they raised a range of issues related to electricity and water service tariffs, particularly for the commercial and service sectors, and their implications for various economic activities, as well as ways to develop relevant policies in a manner that achieves a balance between service efficiency, sustainability, and support for the business environment.

The members also drilled down on the challenges associated with delays in connecting electricity and water services to certain areas and residential plots, emphasizing the importance of completing the necessary infrastructure for those areas according to the specified timelines and accelerating service-connection procedures to meet citizens' needs and keep abreast of urban-development plans.

They further discussed services provided to farms and desert areas and ways to develop them and bolster their reliability, thereby ensuring the continuity of electricity and water supplies and meeting the needs of beneficiaries across different regions.

In the same context, Their Excellencies raised a number of issues related to the use of centralized gas systems in homes and residential complexes, stressing the importance of enhancing safety and security requirements and raising awareness about the safe use of such systems, in addition to coordination among the relevant authorities regarding their expansion wherever appropriate.

They also underscored the importance of continuing digital-transformation efforts and advancing smart systems in network management and subscriber services, while leveraging modern technologies and artificial intelligence to improve operational efficiency, enhance response times to faults, and further burnish the quality of services provided to subscribers.

Responding to the observations raised by Their Excellencies, HE the President of Kahramaa affirmed that the corporation is pressing ahead with its plans to advance the electricity and water sectors, foster network efficiency, and support sustainability and renewable-energy programs in a manner that keeps abreast of the nation's needs and development requirements.

His Excellency expressed appreciation for the observations put forward by the members, affirming that they would be taken into consideration within the corporation's plans and development programs, thereby contributing to promoting the quality of services and communication with subscribers.

At the presentation wrapped up, HE the Speaker of the Shura Council, on his own behalf and on behalf of Their Excellencies the Council members, expressed profound gratitude to HE Engineer Abdullah bin Ali Al Theyab, and the accompanying delegation for their attendance and engagement.

He reaffirmed the Council's commitment to supporting efforts aimed at developing electricity and water services, enhancing supply security, and entrenching the efficient use of resources in a manner that serves society and supports the nation's sustainable-development journey.

Meanwhile, the Shura Council reviewed the report of the Health, Public Services and Environment Affairs Committee regarding the proposed law on the digital protection of children.

In light of the committee's conclusions, the Council approved, pursuant to Article (106) of its Rules of Procedure, referring the proposal to the government in the form of draft legislation for further review and consideration. (QNA)