Qatar has announced that the Ras Abu Fontas A3 - the country's first water desalination project with reverse osmosis technology, is likely to be completed in the first quarter of 2017.

The first phase of the project was completed in September 2016 and final phase of the project with a capacity of 36 mgpd (million gallons of water per day) will be delivered soon at a total cost of QR1.75 billion ($480 million), reported The Peninsula, citing a senior minister.

Minister of Energy and Industry and chairman of Qatar Electricity and Water Company Dr Mohammed bin Saleh Al Sada said the company has developed a 10-year long-term plan, which takes into account the annual increase in the need for electricity and water till 2026, especially with regard to 2022 World Cup and diversification of sources revenue and rationalisation of expenditures through raising the level of performance and efficiency.

Umm Al Houl power project, one of the biggest in the region representing almost 25 per cent of the total power and water requirement of Qatar, has witnessed great progress with more than 75 per cent construction work completed, stated Al Sada.

A major portion of the plant is expected to be ready in 2017 itself and final completion, with a capacity of 2,520 MW of Electricity and 136.50 mgpd of water, is expected by July 2, 2018, he added.