Qatar plans to start work on a major solar power plant in June this year and the plant, with an initial capacity of 200 MW of electricity, is expected to be operational by 2020, a report said.

Siraj Power will start production by April 30, 2020, Energy and Industry Minister Dr Mohamed bin Saleh Al Sada was quoted as saying by a Gulf Times report.

In his report to the annual general meeting of the Qatar Electricity and Water Company (QEWC), Dr Al Sada said Siraj Power will have an initial production capacity of 200 MW of electricity, with an expansion plan of up to 500 MW.

A memorandum of understanding for setting up the company was signed between QEWC and Qatar Petroleum (QP) in December, 2015. A joint venture agreement was signed by the partners in November last year.

Siraj Power will have a capital base of $500 million, of which QEWC will own  60 per cent and QP the rest.

The company would formally come into being by March 31, and other works for implementation of the project is expected to start by June 30 this year, the report said.