The Edge Magazine Environment and Sustainability Supplement September 2014
Environ CSR in the private sector
How are local businesses implementing green policies?
A MOUNTAIN OF WASTE Turning Qatar’s rubbish problem into an opportunity
& QATAR ENERGY’S CLEAN SWEEP
Exploring cleaner environment programmes in the hydrocarbon sector 1 | The Edge
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How are local businesses implementing green policies?
A MOUNTAIN OF WASTE
& QATAR ENERGY’S CLEAN SWEEP
Exploring cleaner environment programmes in the hydrocarbon sector
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The Edge Magazine Environment and Sustainability Supplement September 2014
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Contents 1 | The Edge
CSR: Finding a way forward for Qatar
Is the private sector doing enough to tackle environmental and sustainability issues the country is facing? A look at how corporate social responsibility intitiaves are implemented reveals the challenges businesses face.
Qatar energy’s clean sweep
4
The Edge Environ takes a look at how Qatar’s hydrocarbon industry is implementing new technologies to reduce the nation’s carbon footprint.
distribution & subscriptions azqa haroon/joseph isaac a.haroon@firefly-me.com j.issac@firefly-me.com art director sarah jabari senior graphic designer niveen saeed production coordinator ron baron photographer herbert villadelrey printer ali bin ali printing press Doha, Qatar
firefly communications PO Box 11596, Doha , Qatar Tel: +974 44340360 / Fax: +974 44340359 www.firefly-me.com The Edge, Qatar Construction News is printed monthly by © 2014 Firefly Communications. All material strictly copyright and all rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part, without the prior written permission of Firefly Communications, is strictly forbidden. All content is believed to be factual at the time of publication. Views expressed by contributors are their own derived opinions and not necessarily endorsed by The Edge or Firefly Communications. No responsibility or liability is accepted by the editorial staff or the publishers for any loss occasioned to any individual or company, legal or physical, acting or refraining from action as a result of any statement, fact, figure, expression of opinion or belief contained in The Edge. The publisher (Firefly Communications) does not officially endorse any advertising or advertorial content for third party products. Photography/image credits and copyright, where not specifically stated, are that of Shutterstock and/or iStock Photo or Firefly Communications.
A mountain of waste
16
Qatar’s growing economy and population has led to an explosion of waste, but this could present a significant and untapped opportunity for businesses looking to recycle and rethink what happens to waste in Qatar.
environ | energy sector
QATAR ENERGY’S CLEAN SWEEP Exploring cleaner environment programmes in the hydrocarbon sector
As one of the largest liquified natural gas (LNG) producers in the world, is Qatar doing enough to offset its carbon footprint? Roisin Bailey looks at cleaner environment programmes in Qatar’s energy sector, with a focus on the latest technologies and some of the tangible results achieved through current projects and what lies ahead.
Flaring 2012-2013 (million metric standard cubic metres) 4,500
4,162
-13%
4,000
3,605 Liquefied Natural Gas/Natural Gas
3,500 3,000
F
inding the right balance between economic growth and environmental protection is one of the key pillars of Qatar’s National Development Strategy 2011 – 2016. Increased greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and greater local pollutants are a direct environmental impact of the oil and gas industry. In fact, varying reports state that anything between 67 to 92 percent of Qatar’s carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions are caused by fuel combusted during energy production and, according to statistics from the United Nations, Qatar has the highest rate of CO2 production per capita in the world. Having soared to become the richest country in the world by GDP per capita thanks to its large oil and gas reserves, Qatar therefore has a responsibility to the environment, not least because it is a country that would be largely impacted by the effects of desertification and sea-level rise caused by climate change. Qatar has been successful in helping other countries to reduce their overall GHG emissions by exporting clean burning fossil fuel,
Major research and development facilities have been set up with breakthroughs in flare reduction, water reuse and other technologies within Qatar’s energy sector. 4 | The Edge
Petrochemicals and Chemicals
2,500
Oil and Gas (Exploration and Production)
2,000 1,500 1,000
Mining, Minerals and Others
500
Refining
2012
2013
Qatar’s gas flaring per sector in million metric standard cubic metres (mmscm). Source: Sustainability in the Qatar Energy and Industry Sector 2013
but this is not enough. What are the direct on-the-ground efforts being made within Qatar’s energy sector for ensuring cleaner environment practices? In order to achieve the Qatar National Vision 2030, major research and development facilities have been set up and breakthroughs in flare reduction, water reuse and other technologies within hydrocarbon production are being discovered.
Flared gas recovery
Flaring – the burning of excess or unusable gas – is believed to account for about 12 percent of Qatar’s total emissions, making the reduction of GHG emissions via flared gas recovery projects an important activity. In collaboration with the World Bank’s Global Gas Flaring Reduction Partnership (GGFR), a National Flaring and Venting Reduction Project has been set up to reach the goal of halving
energy sector | environ Qatar has the highest rate of CO2 emission per capita in the world. However national gas companies such as RasGas are working hard to reduce their CO2 output drastically in coming years. (Image courtesy RasGas)
20%
The amount of Qatar’s total emissions caused by gas flaring
the volume of gas flaring to 0.0115 billion cubic metres per million tonnes of energy produced by 2016 from the 2008 level of 0.0230 billion cubic metres per million tonnes of energy produced. Leading from this, 2013 saw a 13 percent total reduction in flaring from 2012 levels. Qatar Petroleum has a corporate objective of achieving zero flaring by 2016, while RasGas aims to reduce flaring emissions from a baseline of 1.26 percent in 2011 to 0.43 percent by 2016. Commenting on their achievements to date, Steven J. Whisker, head of environment at RasGas, tells The Edge Environ, “We are currently on our second five-year flare minimisation plan, which has thus far contributed to a decline in our total greenhouse gas emissions in 2013.” According to the Qatargas Corporate Scorecard, the industry average of flaring as a percentage of sweet gas is 0.91 percent, but Qatargas is outperforming this with a 0.89 percent record as of May this year. This is a reduction from its 2010 levels, which were at 2.91 percent. The Al Shaheen Oil Field Gas Recovery and Utilization Project in Qatar’s North Gas Field is a Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) Project run by Qatar Petroleum and Maersk Oil. The project reduces approximately 2.31 million tonnes of CO2 emissions annually and has already reduced flaring by about 80 Source: Sustainability in the Qatar Energy and Industry Sector 2013
Qatar Energy and Industry Sector Strategy Measure our GHG emissions and promote reduction awareness
Avoid GHG emissions for planned expansion and new operations
Reduce from current levels
Replace energy efficient option
Offset
National Resource Management 2011-2016
The Edge | 5
environ environ|| energy energysector sector
An example of one of RasGas’ waste reduction programmes. (Image courtesy RasGas)
1.5m tonnes
Of CO2 to be off-set annually as part of the Qatargas Jetty Boil-off Gas Recovery Project at Ras Laffan Industrial City
percent. Also in Qatar’s North Gas Field is the Al Karkara field, which has been designed to achieve zero-gas flaring by injecting excess sour gas back into the reservoir. Elsewhere, Qatargas is working on the USD1 billion (QAR3.64 billion) Jetty Boil-off Gas Recovery Project at Ras Laffan Industrial City with the aim of recovering the equivalent of 0.6 million tonnes of LNG per year which would help off-set 1.5 million tonnes of CO2 annually. The project, which enables boil-off gas to be collected from LNG ships and compressed at a central facility, is due to be completed later this year.
Water reduction technologies
Brett Doherty, chief safety, health, environment and quality (SHE&Q) officer at RasGas stresses the importance of water management in the hydrocarbons sector, explaining, “Water management is an increasingly important issue in the oil and gas industry,” he says, “and the
use of freshwater in operations is an especially sensitive issue in a country like Qatar where it is a scarce resource.” Improving the efficiencies in water treatment technology is a serious subject and efforts are underway to reduce water consumption and for wastewater recycling and reuse. As a result, 36 percent of water was recycled in 2013, which is just 2 percent short of the national target for 2016. In an interview with The Edge, Yousef Saleh, managing director of Qatar Shell Research and Technology Centre (QSRTC) spoke about the water treatment technologies being deployed at the Water Treatment and Development Laboratory located within QSRTC. The laboratory first opened at the end of last year with the aim of increasing the efficiency of water treatment and reuse, particularly at the Pearl GTL site, which is considered to be the world’s largest industrial complex to have a self-sufficient water system. Describing the anaerobic technology deployed at the laboratory, Yousef Saleh explained that the bacteria consumes the contamination in the hydro-carbon using an anaerobic reactor and this results in a more efficient way to reduce the sludge and produce clean water. Discussing some of the challenges he adds, “The steps for cleaning of industrial water is not easy, but the challenge is how you reduce the waste, how you do more and employ better treatment for less cost.” “This is a theme we would like to grow because it is part of the National Vision. Research and development is one of the top challenges in the country and we would like to do more of it,” Saleh concludes. Qatargas has achieved a 16 percent reduction in their consumption of water at its Kahrama field, while RasGas treats its wastewater
GHG Emissions Subsector Liquefied Natural Gas/Natural Gas Power and Utilities Refining Petrochemicals and Chemicals Oil and Gas (Exploration and Production) Mining, Minerals and Other Transport, Storage and Distribution Full Sector
GHG Emissions (Tonnes Co2e)
Comparable Companies
2012
2013
%Change
3 5 2
40,779,271 12,665,378 7,602,647
40,946,112 12,489,103 9,442,520
+0.4% -1.4% +24.2%
6 5 2 1 24
6.728,591 7,657.152 6,378,170 30,525 81,841,734
7,119,070 6,746,824 5,451,951 33,653 82,229,233
+5.8% -11.9% -14.5% +10.2% +0.5%
Greenhouse gas CO2 emissions in tonnes by subsector in Qatar. Source: Sustainability in the Qatar Energy and Industry Sector 2013
6 | The Edge
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environ | energy sector
“Water management is an increasingly important issue in the oil and gas industry and the use of fresh water in operations is an especially sensitive issue in a country like Qatar where it is a scarce resource,” Brett Doherty, chief safety, health, environment and quality (SHE&Q) officer at RasGas. (Image courtesy RasGas)
from its Ras Laffan facility and uses it to irrigate a green area within the RasGas site as well as a green belt containing native vegetation. Brett Doherty says, “RasGas’ primary process water source is seawater, but we are seeking ways in which we can put waste water to better use within the plant. Our aim is to reuse treated waste-water streams as an alternative to desalinated water for our plant operations, with a view to achieving zero onshore discharge.” Both Qatargas and RasGas use a Membrane Bioreactor (MBR) approach to wastewater recycling and reuse. This, coupled with MultiMedia Filtration (MMF) and Reverse Osmosis (RO), allows for secondary and tertiary wastewater treatment. Qatargas’ wastewater is processed in this way at its LNG trains and Laffan Refinery as well as from oily wastewater, Low Pressure (LP) sour water and chemical wastewater from its deep injection wells and for RasGas it is used to treat wastewater streams as an alternative to desalinated water for plant operations.
Sustainable shipping
Qatargas aims to further reduce its emissions per nautical mile by converting slow speed diesel engines to Main Engine Gas Injection using LNG as its fuel source. (Image courtesy Qatargas)
8 | The Edge
Exxon Mobil Corporation in partnership with Qatar Petroleum had an industry breakthrough in LNG carrier design and size, resulting in transport technology that can carry 80 percent more liquefied natural gas than current carriers, meaning reduced energy used per delivery unit. On one of its Q-Max vessels, Qatargas is piloting the conversion of slow speed diesel engines to Main Engine Gas Injection using LNG as the fuel source while RasGas has also been making concerted efforts to cut emissions per nautical mile by using larger vessels and retrofitting older vessels to use clean LNG as fuel. The Jetty Boil-Off Gas project has reduced flaring at the Ras Laffan loading terminal to the minimal practicable limit.
Water Consumption by Subsector 3.9%0.3% 12.7% 14.7% 68.4%
Petrochemicals and Chemicals Refining
Liquefied Natural Gas/Natural Gas
Mining, Minerals and others Oil and Gas (Exploration and Production) Source: Sustainability in the Qatar Energy and Industry Sector 2013
Future programmes
The energy sector in Qatar has invested huge amounts of money to research the feasibility of making carbon capture and storage (CCS) technology work on a commercial scale. CCS involves the process of capturing, transporting and safely storing large-scale CO2 waste. While the use of CCS technology in Qatar’s energy sector is still in research phase, RasGas does operate an Acid Gas Injection scheme that stores approximately one million tonnes per year of CO2 in a saline aquifer in an onshore reservoir formation. The expanded use of CCS technology in Qatar would positively bolster its efforts to reduce the environmental impact of its lucrative oil and gas sector. Inroads have been made and Qatar has set out a series of steps for further progress. A Carbon Capture and Management Road Map by Qatar University’s Gas Processing Centre (GPC) outlines key milestones in the development of CCS technology for Qatar. Most global studies to date on CCS technology have involved sandstone reservoirs such as those found in America or Europe. The Qatar Carbonates and Carbon Storage Research Centre (QCCSRC) is a USD70 million (QAR255 million), ten-year research project that addresses the major scientific and engineering challenges for the safe and permanent storage of CO2 in Qatari carbonate reservoirs. Qatargas has also launched a project to implement Environmental Data Management Systems (EDMS) to optimise data collection, tracking and reporting of key environmental parameters of its operations. The EDMS once implemented, will be able to generate useful reports on GHG emissions, compliance checklists and flaring.
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environ | csr & sustainability
CSR: Finding a way forward for Qatar
10 | The Edge
csr & sustainability | environ
Corporate social responsibility (CSR) aims to promote the importance of business accountability to a wide range of stakeholders. One of the key areas of concern in the last few years is environment protection and sustainability. The Edge takes a look at what the private sector in Qatar is doing about it. by Aparna Shivpuri
T
here is an understandable sense of urgency about Qatar’s response to both global and local environmental issues. The country has an arid climate with an expanding economy and population, and therefore faces hard questions related to food and water supply on top of the challenge of developing a sustainable future. Under the National Vision 2030, Qatar has made environmental development one of its four priority objectives. In order to protect its natural environment, Qatar has put strong policies in place, lead by the Ministry of Environment. For instance, In Qatar, 22 percent of the land is designated as a protected area, which far exceeds the 10 percent specified by signatories to the Convention on Biological Diversity, of which Qatar is one. The private sector, of course, has an important role to play in promoting sustainability and protecting the environment, and this is where the role of corporate social responsibility (CSR) comes in. CSR is a concept whereby companies integrate social and environmental concerns in their business operations and in their interactions with the stakeholders on a voluntary basis. Since CSR is about integrating business operations with environmental concerns, it is not so much about what companies do with their profits or revenue, but how they generate this revenue and profit. It is no longer acceptable for a company to grow in isolation from those agents that are impacted by its actions. Thus, companies must be able to determine how their organisations can become more socially responsible, ecologically sustainable, and economically competitive. For example, according to Dr. Alex Amato of the Qatar Green Building Council, the most important environmental concern is Qatar reducing its carbon footprint.
The Global Compact Management Model Making a public commitment to Global Compact Principles sends an important signal, however as the Global Corporate Sustainability Report 2013 shows, it is the follow-through, from getting boardroom buy-in to training programmes for employees, that makes all the difference.
Commit A commitment from leadership in organisations to mainstream the Global Compact principles into strategies and operations in support of broader UN goals and issues, in a transparent way.
Communicate Communicate progress and strategies, and engage with stakeholders for continuous improvement
ASSESS Assess risks, opportunities and impacts across Global Compact Issue areas
CSR
Measure Measure and monitor impacts and progress towards goals
Define Define goals, strategies and policies
IMPLEMENT Implement strategies and policies through the company’s value chain
Source: Global Corporate Sustainability Report 2013
What is Qatar’s private sector doing?
Companies in Qatar have begun taking measures through CSR to promote sustainability. Ooredoo, for instance, sponsors and supports a host of events and programmes aimed at promoting human growth across Qatar, of which the environment is one of their key areas of focus. All of Ooredoo’s CSR initiatives are measured by a ‘Triple P’ approach, where people and the planet are valued as highly as profit. By maintaining this approach, which measures each initiative by its merits, Ooredoo aims to have a balanced CSR portfolio. According to Fatima Sultan Al Kuwari, Ooredoo’s director of community and public relations, “Ooredoo is one of the main companies taking a lead on environmental issues in Qatar and our push for eBilling began in 2011, when we were one of the first companies in the country to introduce
“We’re always looking for ways to reduce the carbon footprint of our network, retail stores, offices and contact centres,” says Dana Haidan, head of corporate social responsibility and sustainability at Vodafone Qatar.
The Edge | 11
environ | csr & sustainability
CSR in the corporate world
65%
Of 2000 global companies surveyed in the 2013 Global Sustainability Report claim commitment to developing and/or evaluating sustainability policies and strategies at CEO level but only
35%
of these firms train managers to integrate sustainability issues into strategy and operations.
and while
90%
of company boards discuss and act on sustainability issues either as part of their regular agenda or as-needed
only
8%
of company boards link executive remuneration packages to sustainability performance.
Source: Global Corporate Sustainability Report 2013
12 | The Edge
PDF bills. Moving to a paperless billing system has also helped us cut down on the ink and energy needed to print the bills, and envelopes and transportation used to deliver the bills. All these issues contribute to our company’s carbon foot print.” She further adds that in line with their environmental initiatives, they have also pledged to cease all paper-based internal communications in two of their head offices by the end of 2014. The other major telecoms company, Vodafone Qatar is also not far behind in implementing CSR. Vodafone Qatar firmly believes that as businesses with global reach, telecommunications companies
have the opportunity to deliver change on a worldwide scale. The IT and telecommunications industries are estimated to be responsible for producing two percent of the world’s carbon – roughly the same as the aviation industry. Telecoms operators can help build a lower carbon economy by delivering innovations that enable others to increase their energy-efficiency and by curbing the environmental impact of their operations. Highlighting the importance of sustainability, Dana Haidan, head of corporate social responsibility and sustainability at Vodafone Qatar, says, “Sustainability is a core part of who we are
csr & sustainability | environ Since CSR is about integrating business operations with environmental concerns, it is not so much about what companies do with their profits or revenue, but how they generate this revenue and profit. (Image Corbis)
The Ministry of Economy and Commerce intends to launch a Qatari CSR index that takes into account international experiments based on relevant UN standards.
Barriers in advancing corporate sustainability performance SMEs Large Companies Lack of financial resources
39% 18%
Lack of knowledge
34% 11%
Extending strategy through supply chain
26% 54%
at Vodafone. We’re focused on supporting safe and secure mobile use, making our products and services accessible, keeping customers informed and managing our impact on the environment. That’s what sustainability means to us, the way we conduct our business and the impact we have on our people, the environment and the communities in which we operate.” “Looking after the environment makes sense to our customers,” adds Haidan, “and it makes sense to us. We’re always looking for ways to reduce the carbon footprint of our network, retail stores, offices and contact centres.” At Vodafone Qatar, the CSR activities include asking the customers to get
involved too. They do that by requesting the customers return their unwanted phones for recycling or by switching over to paperless billing. “We investigate and install energy-saving measures for our networks wherever we can. The nature of our business means our products and services can help our customers go greener too.” Sasol, which has a joint venture with Qatar Petroleum in Qatar, to develop gasto-liquids (GTL), has also been actively involved in promoting the link between CSR and sustainability. According to Jack Saba, general manager, public affairs, Sasol, “Sasol has long prioritised our commitment to the communities in which we operate - Qatar being no exception. We have partnered with Friends of the Environment Centre to develop a mobile application that brings the diversity of Qatar’s nature such as birds, insects, flora and others to the palm of your hand. By making the app available for free, in Arabic and English, and holding a yearly contest for schools, we are reaching the next generation with a message of sustainability in a way that fits their interests and lifestyle.” According to Dr. Alex, both the private
Implementing strategy across business functions
21% 38% Competing strategic priorities
18% 33% No clear link to business value
15% 20% Extending strategy through subsidiaries
8% 28% Source: Global Corporate Sustainability Report 2013
The Edge | 13
environ | csr & sustainability sector and government bodies, especially organisations such as Qatar Foundation are working hard towards leading the discussions on sustainability.
Challenges in CSR
While it is encouraging to know what companies are doing, it is definitely not an easy task. It is a tough ask to make people change their habits, both within and outside the corporation. For Ooredoo, the biggest challenge has been customers’ reluctance to move away from paper bills. “Although our research has found online billing to be more secure and timely for our customers, some are requesting the continuation of paper bills,” opined Al Kuwari. Another issue, according to Al Kuwari is their reliance on paper-based
communication methods. Even in today’s modern world, where paperless communication is more available than ever before, companies will still print, file and copy paper versions of their documents. To combat these challenges, Ooredoo has provided employees with software that enables them to backup and store information needed on their desktops and laptop. “In our flagship Ooredoo shops we have also installed a paperless queuing system for our customers via SMS, and have distributed iPads for customer sales representatives to send customers’ information on, instead of printing it out,” she added.
Jack Saba, general manager, public affairs, Sasol says their joint venture with Qatar Petroleum, ORYX GTL, is an example of how Qatar’s resources can be used to produce lower environmental impact products.
14 | The Edge
Moving forward
Besides these initiatives, it is also important to involve employees who can help come up with some very good ideas. Therefore according to Dr. Alex, it is very important to start the process internally in the company as well. For instance, companies can conduct carbon audits, which will help them to identify the consumption intensive areas internally and affect change. For instance, if transport is a cause of concern, then it might help to encourage employees to car pool. To understand the dynamics of sustainability, it is important to understand the organisation, its culture, and the impact of processes, as all functions within an organisation have interconnected impact.
According to Dr. Alex Amato of the Qatar Green Building Council, the most important environmental concern is Qatar reducing its carbon footprint.
csr & sustainability | environ
In their flagship stores, Ooredoo have installed a paperless queuing system for our customers via SMS, and have distributed iPads for customer sales representatives to send customers information.
Business participants by region & size
4000 3500 3000 2500 2000
SMEs (<250 Employees)
1500 1000
Company (>250 Employees)
500 australasia
africa
Mena
northern america
Asia
0 LATIN America
Saba is very optimistic about the role companies are playing to protect the environment. The economy is on track to diversify beyond traditional gas products. Sasolâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s joint venture with Qatar Petroleum, ORYX GTL, is an example of how Qatarâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s resources can be used to produce lower environmental impact products. GTL produces a cleaner-burning fuel than traditional petroleum-based diesel fuels. The challenge remains to build a global-scale market for converted gas products, which the State of Qatar and its partners, including Sasol, are engaged in today.â&#x20AC;? The Ministry of Economy and Commerce (MEC) intends to launch a Qatari CSR index that takes into account similar international experiments based on relevant UN standards, a new report reveals. The Ministry also seeks to form a CSR network that covers Qatari companies in general and companies registered on the Qatari stock exchange in particular, in order to promote the exchange of ideas and help these companies meet CSR standards. There is no denying that Qatar is facing
EUROPE
The Ministry of Economy and Commerce is seeking to improve the importance of CSR in the country, especially among companies registered on the Qatar Stock Exchange in order to promote the exchange of ideas and help these companies meet CSR standards.
major environmental challenges that need to be appropriately resolved, particularly achieving water security, reducing carbon emissions and increasing energy efficiency, and mitigating risks that threaten the safety of the marine environment. The role of the private sector through CSR has become more important than ever.
Source: Global Corporate Sustainability Report 2013
The Edge | 15
environ | waste management
A mountain
of waste The rapid population and economic growth Qatar has experienced over the past decade has lead to a unique environmental challenge the country needs to address immediately: its waste generation problem. What is more, this environmental challenge could also be a great area of untapped potential for economic development of the country. by Shehan Mashood
O
“Commercial construction companies look for ways to stay under budget, and it turns out that being environmentally friendly might be the key to doing just that.” - Nicola Maxwell, chairperson of Solid Waste Interest Group, QGBC. 16 | The Edge
ver the past decade the amount of solid waste generated in Qatar has risen rapidly, almost alongside the growth of its gross domestic product (GDP). In fact, numerous studies have shown that around the world, waste generation has been closely linked to growth of a nation’s GDP, and Qatar is no different. However, this has meant that Qatar is among the biggest waste generators per capita in the world, producing 584 kilograms per year, ranking it 18th in the world among 164 countries. Data also shows that even with such a relatively small population, its total municipal waste generation of more than 2.5 million tonnes per year ranks it 71st in terms of total waste generated. Addressing this waste management challenge is an environmental imperative that the government has taken seriously. Among its initiatives include the Domestic Solid Waste Management Centre (DSWMC) located in Mesaieed, which started operations in 2011, and has the ability to divert up to 95 percent of waste away from landfills. The centre, which cost USD550 million (QAR2 billion) to build, was supposed to have capacity sufficient until 2019. However, by mid2013, the plant was operating at its full capacity of processing 2300 tonnes of domestic and solid waste per day.
This represents a unique opportunity for private sector investment in an area that shows significant promise. In fact, Qatar Development Bank figures from 2013, show that Qatar’s solid waste management market has the potential to generate as much as USD663 million (QAR2.4 billion) a year. The data show opportunities in the areas of waste collection, sorting, recycling, producing electricity from waste, biological and waste disposal.
The business opportunity
Many businesses are starting to notice the importance of waste generation and management, and have numerous initiatives in place. The construction industry is of special importance in Qatar, which in 2012 contributed to 78 percent of all waste generated in Qatar. Each month, the Solid Waste Interest Group, part of the Qatar Green Building Council
waste management | environ
Qatar Development Bank figures from 2013 show that Qatar’s solid waste management market has the potential to generate as much as QAR2.4 billion a year. (Image Corbis)
18th
Qatar is among one of the biggest waste generators per capita globally, producing 584 kilograms per year, ranking it 18th of 164 countries.
(QGBC), meets to discuss and strategise effective ways to handle solid waste in Qatar, says Nicola Maxwell, chairperson of Solid Waste Interest Group at QGBC, and sales manager at Averda, a waste management firm. “Recycling is one of our big areas of focus, and we just recently formed a partnership with the Ministry of Environment to help find ways to make the process more efficient across the country,” says Maxwell.
Cost is a major factor for companies to consider when implementing waste management, especially in Qatar where there is a high level of competition in the construction industry. Not only is reusing, repurposing, and recycling construction material good for the environment, explains Maxwell, but it might also be good for an organisation’s bottom line. “Like many European commercial construction companies, firms in Qatar also look for ways to stay under budget within their construction sites, and it turns out that making the effort to be environmentally friendly might be the key to doing just that,” she explains. For example, says Maxwell, taking steps to reuse or recycle a material onsite may make the difference between being under or over budget. It is probably also appealing to clients, who see the value in owning green buildings, she points out. The key to creating an
Revenue Opportunities Construction & Demolition
Household Recycling
382 million
364 million
Commercial Waste Collection
Commercial Waste Recycling
QAR
QAR
QAR
276 million
QAR
364 million Waste to Energy
QAR
Source: QDB Data
491 million
The Edge | 17
environ | waste management
Taking advantage
“Although our research has found online billing to be more secure and timely for our customers, some are requesting the continuation of paper bills.” – Fatima Sultan Al Kuwari, director of community and public relations at Ooredoo.
economic advantage in such situations requires a little advance planning. “Assess a demolition site before tearing down a building and keep an inventory of anything that can be reused or sent off for recycling,” Maxwell adds. “Get the construction team involved and train them on what to look for and what to do with any salvaged items. Then, create designated areas where those salvaged materials will be sorted. Make sure you watch over your team to hold them accountable for the task at hand. Try to make use of any reusable items on the job site, as that will be the most cost effective technique.” It is possible to reuse steel, which has the added benefit of often being produced locally, from recycled scraps. According to Maxwell, materials such as steel can be recycled for scraps, and carpet can be sent off for recycling. It is even possible to crush and reuse concrete. Not all of these techniques will work on every commercial construction site, says Maxwell, however, thinking carefully before demolishing an existing building to make way for a new one may yield some surprisingly reusable materials, help buildings adhere to green standards, and save on project costs in the process.
18 | The Edge
One such business set up to take advantage of Qatar’s growing waste problem is Lucky Star Alloys, a scrap metal recycling facility. The facility is located in the New Industrial Area and designed for processing, quality checks and packaging for delivery to clients locally as well as export. The facility was designed in response to the growing industrial requirements of Qatar, says Salman Shaban, the commercial manager of Lucky Star Alloys. “The main objective of the overall waste metal recycling process is to divert as much quantity as possible from the landfills to our recycling facility,” says Shaban, adding that while most of the recycled materials are exported to clients in over 40 countries around the world, there has been increased interest in the recycled materials from their facility, and material is being sold locally to recently established recycling plants within Qatar. The concept of waste metal recycling is relatively new in Qatar, explains Shaban, and the recycling industry is at a stage where the new structural reforms and infrastructural developments are being implemented. However, he says he is keen to be a part of this green movement by adding value to the country’s recycling systems while making it economically viable. “As industrial activity expands, scrap generation and recovery opportunities are on a continuous rise,” says Shaban.
The future of waste
Maxwell agrees saying, “the government is in the process of amending and reimplementing waste legislation here in Qatar. Once this legislation is imposed, people and businesses in Qatar will ultimately have to manage their waste more effectively. With enforced awareness and action around effective waste management, projects across the country like the World Cup will be able to
Qatar’s construction industry is by far the largest contributor to waste, accounting for 78 percent of total waste generated in 2012. (Image Corbis)
“As industrial activity expands, scrap generation and recovery opportunities are on the rise.” Salman Shaban, Lucky Star Alloys.
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environ | waste management The Ministry of Environment recently formed a partnership with the QGBC to look into making recycling more efficient across Qatar.
manage their waste and recycling at an optimal level.” Shaban believes that a key to any national plan should include enforcement in areas of segregating waste at the source, penalising those who do not abide by the rules and increasing both general awareness and accessibility to recycling among the population. Maxwell concurs saying, “encouragement and awareness are crucial factors in ensuring sound waste management practices such as recycling.” However, there are numerous challenges to getting companies and everyday users to waste less and reuse more to stem the rise of waste. At Ooredoo for example, the company is rolling out a programme that removes paper billing as an option. “Our main challenge is our customer’s willingness to move from paper bills,” says Fatima Sultan Al Kuwari the director of community and public relations at Ooredoo. She adds, “Although our research has found online billing to be more secure and timely for our customers, some are requesting the continuation of paper bills.” As cities such as Doha grow, there is a newfound need to drastically reduce waste streams, says Maxwell,
20 | The Edge
78%
Qatar’s waste in numbers Waste generation per capita
Qatar’s construction industry is by far the largest contributor to waste accounting for 78 percent of total waste generated in 2012.
584kg per year
Total municipal waste generation
and this will require a major shift away from our current linear model of waste management, where we make, use, and then dispose. “Supplies of raw material are dwindling while urban centres across the developing world are expected to see a dramatic population increase over the coming years,” says Maxwell. In order to tackle Qatar’s waste management problem there must be industry-wide cooperation in order to ensure a synergy between waste generation, government legislation and society’s outlook on waste, she continues, and there are profound benefits to incentivising stakeholders. But in the meantime, the tangible goals should be to reduce avoidable waste, and identify ways to use waste that benefits our economy, Maxwell concludes.
2.5million
tonnes per year
Waste incinerated
4% Waste recycled
3% Waste disposed in landfills
93% Source: Waste Atlas
The Edge Magazine Environment and Sustainability Supplement September 2014
Environ CSR in the private sector
How are local businesses implementing green policies?
A MOUNTAIN OF WASTE Turning Qatar’s rubbish problem into an opportunity
& QATAR ENERGY’S CLEAN SWEEP
Exploring cleaner environment programmes in the hydrocarbon sector 1 | The Edge
Qatar 2014
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