Qatar’s atomic future

Nuclear energy analyst provides evidence of Qatar’s atomic power ambitions by Jamie Stewart

Evidence has emerged that the Qatar Ministry of Energy and Industry is moving forwards with its programme to develop nuclear power in the country. State-owned energy giant Qatar Petroleum is seeking to employ a senior nuclear energy analyst, with responsibilities including playing a key role in “developing and implementing a comprehensive nuclear energy strategy for the government”.

The development of a nuclear power programme has long been planned in Doha. According to the Qatar General Electricity and Water Corporation’s 25-year plan, the state’s programme should lead to the installation of 5.4 gigawatts (GW) of nuclear power generation capacity by 2036.
Today the country has an installed power generation capacity of around 8.7GW, almost all of which is produced by gas-fired plants. Few details have emerged regarding a set timeline for Qatar’s nuclear construction programme, although in Doha’s view, the sooner its reliance on fossil fuel fired power generation can be cut, the better.
Nevertheless, Badr Jafar, president of United Arab Emirates (UAE)-based Crescent Petroleum, warned last month that states across the region must not focus on investment in nuclear – or any other technology – at the expense of the fossil-fuel sector. “While such diversification is likely to offer benefits, it is essential that regional policymakers not neglect oil and gas industry investment as a result,” he said. “Nuclear is only ever likely to supplement, not replace the region’s core oil and gas energy system.”
The Qatari ministry appears to have heeded this advice, calling for an analyst with “an expert technical understanding of nuclear energy technologies, the policies used to promote these technologies and the impact of these technologies on fossil fuels markets”.

Few details have emerged but Qatar’s atomic programme should lead to the installation of 5.4GW of nuclear power generation capacity by 2036.

Demand for electricity is forecast to rise by around six percent per year through to 2020, according to official estimates, underlining the importance of a major drive to diversify supply and meet demand if the industry is to keep up with the nation’s economic growth.
Doha has signed deals with France and Russia for training, R&D, construction and operational assistance with its nuclear power programme.
Qatar will follow the UAE, which is in the process of building the Gulf region’s first nuclear power plant. Construction of the four unit Barakah nuclear power plant began in July. Unit 1 is slated for completion in 2017, with the remaining three units expected to be completed in 2018, 2019 and 2020 respectively.

This article first appeared in TheEDGE 4.10, October 2012.