At a reception held Monday ahead of Qatar's National Day on Dec. 18, Khalid bin Ebrahim Al-Hamar, Qatar's ambassador to Korea, highlighted a flagship renewable project involving Korean companies: a 2,000-megawatt solar power plant being developed in the Dukhan area west of Doha.
"The QatarEnergy project to build a solar power station in Dukhan, with a production capacity of 2,000 megawatts, is the largest solar power plant implemented by Korean companies in the region," Al-Hamar said, describing it as a milestone in the evolution of bilateral energy ties.
The project underscores how cooperation between the two countries has expanded beyond hydrocarbons and construction into renewables, low-carbon manufacturing and advanced digital infrastructure.
Al-Hamar said relations had matured into a comprehensive strategic partnership spanning health care, education, youth exchanges, agriculture, smart networks, investment, culture and sports.
Samsung C&T Corp. said in September it had secured a 1.46 trillion won ($993 million) contract from QatarEnergy to build the Dukhan solar facility, which will cover roughly 27 square kilometres — about nine times the size of Seoul’s Yeouido district — and deploy around 2.74 million solar panels. Scheduled for completion in 2030, the project is expected to be the largest solar power plant ever built by a Korean construction company.
At the same time, Korean firms continue to expand their footprint in Qatar's conventional power sector.
Doosan Enerbility announced on Monday that it had signed a 130 billion won contract to supply key equipment for a 2,400-megawatt gas combined-cycle power plant, known as "Facility E," to be built southeast of Doha. Under the agreement with Samsung C&T, Doosan will deliver steam turbines, generators and auxiliary equipment by 2029.
The deal follows a 290 billion won combined cycle power plant, PP12 (Power Plant 12), secured by Doosan earlier this year, highlighting how renewable and thermal power projects are advancing in parallel as Qatar balances energy security with decarbonization goals.
Kwon Oh-eul, Korea's Minister of Patriots and Veterans Affairs, said Qatar remained a critical energy supplier for Korea, contributing to the country's energy security, while Korean companies have played a key role in Qatar's urban development, plant construction and shipbuilding.
He noted that the two countries elevated ties to a comprehensive strategic partnership at a 2023 summit, expanding cooperation to defense, artificial intelligence and health care.
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