Environmental standards for infrastructure projects launched

DOHA: The Ministry of Municipality and Environment has launched the second package of environmental standards for infrastructure projects prepared jointly with the State’s development partners.

The Ministry organised a technical workshop to present and discuss environmental standards for infrastructure projects in the presence of 116 participants from the Ministry’s departments and other relevant Ministries, various governmental bodies and private environmental consulting firms working in the field of infrastructure projects.

Commenting on the occasion, Director of the Environmental Assessment Department at the Ministry, Yusuf Ibrahim Al Hamar, said that the department has launched the criteria of oil and gas projects before and today meets with development partners to present the amendments and update the standards of the executive regulations issued by Decree No. 4 of 2005 for the Protection of Environment Law No. 30 of the year 2002.

He added the main objective of the amendment of environmental standards to contribute to achieving one of the pillars of the vision of the State of Qatar 2030 to achieve the objectives of economic development and environmental sustainability in order to preserve the rights of future generations.

He noted that Qatar has witnessed over the past 15 years remarkable economic growth in various fields by implementation of a large number of mega development projects such as Hamad Airport, Hamad Port, Lusail and The Pearl-Qatar, economic zones, resorts, recreational complexes and service projects such as sewage treatment plants, desalination plants, power and cooling areas, etc.

He also pointed out that the Environmental Assessment Department receives annually more than 1,250 applications for permits for infrastructure projects, of which around 20% is to study environmental impact assessment in accordance with the executive regulations of the projects expected to impact on the environment.