Unlikely as it may seem, Qatar has struggled to ensure adequate electricity supply in spite of its vast natural gas resources. The state-controlled power industry remains committed to the use of gas as its primary energy source, in spite of the rowing demands of its many export projects.

There is renewables potential in the country and, longer term, it may flirt with the possibility of nuclear power. In the meantime, it is a race to build gas-fired generation in time to meet the rapidly growing demand of an expanding population.

Qatari power generation in 2011 is put by BMI at 24.3TWh, up an estimated 10.2% on the previous year. All of the growth is contributed by the gas-fired segment, which constitutes the entire power generation segment in Qatar. During the period 2011-2015, Qatar's overall power generation is expected to increase by an annual average of 8.2%, reaching 32.6TWh. Driving this growth is an annual 8.2% gain in gas-fired generation. Conventional thermal sources are expected to remain the dominant fuel for electricity generation in the coming years, with all power projects under construction or planned using gas.

Following an increase in 2011 real GDP of an estimated 17.2%, BMI forecasts average annual growth of 7.1% between 2011 and 2020. The population is expected to rise from the current level of 1.53mn to 1.63mn during the period 2011-2020, and net power consumption looks set to increase from 23.4TWh to 31.1TWh by 2015, rising further to 42.1TWh by 2020.

During the period 2011-2015, the average annual growth rate for electricity demand is forecast at 7.61%, but slowing later in the decade to an average 6.21% in 2016-2020.

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