Kahramaa Awareness Park decked up in lights for the opening ceremony yesterday. Pic: Abdul Basit / The Peninsula
Prime Minister and Interior Minister H E Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa Al Thani yesterday opened the state-of-the-art Kahramaa Awareness Park, an ambitious initiative to promote the culture of conservation of electricity and water among children.
After inaugurating the park at a vibrant ceremony, the Prime Minister toured the facility. The event was also attended by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs H E Ahmed bin Abdullah bin Zaid Al Mahmoud, Minister of Energy and Industry H E Dr Mohammed bin Saleh Al Sada, Kahramaa’s President Eng Essa bin Hilal Al Kuwari and other dignitaries and guests.
The Kahramaa Awareness Park is a magnificent theme-facility having all features needed not only to educate kids about water and electricity but also teach them about the importance of resources.
From life cycle of water to wind energy, solar power to kinetic energy, gas turbine models to water recycling, every subject is there to be taught to children with the help of games, cartoon characters, audio, video aides.
The most interesting part of the park is “Dana Dome”, which shows a 3D film about the importance of water, its conservation and recycling. In the external yard of the park, wind turbines and solar panels have been installed which will not only familiarise kids with alternative energy but, according to an official, are “already producing electricity.”
Future strategies for Tarsheed unveiled
The park also has an Islamic corner which illustrates the role of Islam in achieving sustainability. The park will be open for school trips now and will be open for public visits later.
Coinciding with the opening ceremony, the Qatar General Electricity & Water Corporation (Kahramaa) yesterday marked the fifth anniversary of its ongoing National Program for Conservation and Energy Efficiency (Tarsheed) with the slogan “one promise, one journey ’’.
With the annual Tarsheed celebration, Kahramaa announced future strategies for Tarsheed programme. During the event, a film on the first phase (2012- 2017) of the National Programme was screened, highlighting its overall achievements and challenges. The Tarsheed succeeded in reducing per capita consumption of electricity and water in Qatar by 18% and 20% respectively until December last year.
During the event, Kahramaa also announced the commencement of the second phase (2017- 2022) of Tarsheed and its new roadmap to achieve the objectives set out by Qatar National Vision 2030 and extended National Development Strategy. During these years, Tarsheed will strive to reduce the per capita consumption of electricity and water by 8% and 15% respectively.
Kahramaa at this grand occasion felicitated winners (individuals and establishments) in various categories of three competitions which were organized by Kahramaa’s Conservation and Energy Efficiency department.
Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy was declared “2017 Best Government Corporation Applying Tarsheed Practices”. Ashghal won first place for its “Design of the Qatari Centre of Social Culture for the Deaf” in “In-design Competition”. Ministry of Culture and Sports won award for “Lusail Sports Complex” in sports sector in “Conserving Building Competition”.
Qatar Gas won award for its “Headquarters Office” in commercial sector for “Conserving Building Competition”. Ministry of Municipality and Environment won award for its “Ministry Tower” in government sector corporations in “Conserving Building Competition”.
Musherib Properties won award for “Cultural Forum Building” in government sector companies in “Conserving Building Competition”. Qatar Foundation won award for “Northwestern University Qatar” in education sector in “Conserving Building Competition”. Qatar Gas won another award for “CLPG Plant” in industrial sector for “Conserving Building Competition”.
Sheraton Hotel won award in tourism sector for “Green Hospitality with QNCC”. Ministry of Interior won second position for “Design of Civil Defence and Protection in Wakra” in “In-design Competition”. ASTAD Projects Management won third place in “In-design Competition” for its “Design of Qatar University Sports and Events Complex”. Qatar Foundation won another award for “Solar Panel Units for Irrigation System” in corporation sector for “Best Renewable Energy Initiative”.
Al-Shiamaa Secondary Independent School for Girls won award for its research on “Eco Friendly Green School Model” in “Best Renewable Energy Initiative” competition. Eng. Ibraheem Al Ali won award for his work on “Humidification, Dehumidification, Desalination”.
Tarsheed was launched on the Earth Day in 2012 which falls every year on April 22. Through its multi- folded strategies and programmes, Tarsheed aims at reaching all segments of the society to create awareness for conserving the precious resources. It motivates the whole society to work together, contributing to the envisaged goals and ambitions of the Qatar National Vision 2030.
In order to achieve the target set out by Tarsheed, Kahramaa has signed 56 MoUs in various sectors with various organizations is to implement its objectives.
