A report by Beltone Financial forecasts that the Gulf state of Qatar will spend more than $20bn over the next decade on power generation and desalination to feed its rapid economic expansion. This rate of spending will double the equivalent spend of the last decade, and is in line with expansion – Qatar’s electricity supply and consumption grew at double digit rates over the past decade in line with the growth in demand.
"The hosting of the FIFA 2022 World Cup means that significant investments in infrastructure (transportation networks, roads, hotels, airport and other facilities) will be needed,” Beltone Financial said.
While the country boasts one of the highest per capita consumption rates of electricity in the world, Beltone Financial said it believes that demand will continue to grow. “Going forward, expectations are that electricity demand will continue to grow by at least 10 percent per annum for the next five to seven years and, subsequently, at around 4 percent per annum until 2030,” Beltone Financial said.
With the completion of the Ras Girtas plant in April 2011, Qatar’s electricity capacity now stands at 8756 MW, which means that (according to the ministry of Energy and Industry) Qatar now has a surplus of at least 2500 MW, which can be exported to neighbouring GCC countries. The report noted that water demand is forecast to continue growing at 11 percent annually for the next five to seven years. Qatar’s total water desalination capacity now stands at 327 million imperial gallons per day and as with other Gulf states represents the country's main source of water.
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