The Public Works Authority ‘Ashghal’ signs a Memorandum of Understanding with ABB Qatar, in preparation for the establishment of a factory to produce electric chargers for electric cars and buses. this would be the first factory for ABB E-mobility in the middle east region. The agreement is designed in coordination with Free Zones Authority, which plays a vital part in outreaching with stakeholders to ensure promising growth opportunities to the investors, especially it owns the land where the new charging device plant is expected to be built.
It is worth noting that the signing of the MoU accompanies an electric charging device supplying contract for electric buses, as part of the Ministry of Transport and Communications strategy to switch to electric vehicles.
The memorandum includes providing the necessary training for the relevant cadres and students, in order to qualify them to manage and operate the new electric chargers factory. While also providing workers with the required expertise and information.
On this occasion, Dr. Eng. Saad Bin Ahmad Al Muhannadi, President of the Public Works Authority ‘Ashghal’, says that the signing of the MoU happens according to the directives of HE Prime Minster and Minster of Interior that involve terms in contracts made by the Public Works Authority to establish factories in the Free Zones.
For his part, Eng. Abdulhakim Al Hashimi, Public Projects Section Head in Building Projects Department, confirmed that ‘Ashghal’ will be responsible of following up the factory establishment process. That is in cooperation with Qatar Free Zones Authority to service electric vehicles in integration with Ashghal’s Public Bus Infrastructure Program that provides infrastructure for electric buses and electric charging devices.
Frank Muehlon, President of ABB’s E-mobility division said: "As part of ABB’s 2030 sustainability strategy, we are focused on helping fleets to unlock the potential of e-mobility with state of the art and intelligent charging solutions. As the world moves towards green bus fleets, our solutions are at the leading edge to help cities and regions around the world discover the value of electrification and how it can help us all transition to cleaner and greener transport solutions.”
It is worth noting that the establishment of this factory will strengthen and support the public transportation plan in Qatar. As the Public Works Authority ‘Ashghal’, in cooperation with Mowasalat Company ‘KARWA’, is establishing bus stations and warehouses with the highest technological and environmental standards. These stations are among the largest electric charging stations for buses in the world, which supports the country’s future vision to protect the environment within the Qatar National Vision 2030.
The Public Works Authority ‘Ashghal’ will install 653 electric chargers and 713 inverters in 41 charging sites under construction for the Public Bus Infrastructure Program to serve the fleet of electric buses to operate according to the plan set by Ministry of Transport and Communication. In addition, Ashghal will build various electrical charging points inside and outside Doha and provide all electrical utilities and other necessary infrastructure to connect chargers with electrical transformers and various power stations.
Accordingly, Ashghal had signed 14 new contracts worth 2.4 billion Qatar Riyals for construction of bus stations and bus depots. The new bus stations and depots program implemented by Ashghal’s Buildings Projects Department includes construction of eight main bus stations in different areas including West Bay, Musheireb, Industrial Area, Al-Soudan, Al Gharrafa, Education City, Al Wakra and Lusail, with an average capacity of each unit to contain 25 buses. Within this contract, Ashghal also constructs four huge bus depots in Lusail, Al Rayyan, Industrial Area and Al Wakra, each with an area of 129,000 square meters to 190,000 square meters.
Ashghal will also set up 2,700 bus stops on all major roads, with air-conditioned cabins to wait inside to prevent sunlight and humidity. This will be great comfort for thousands of bus users in many areas.