Doha, June 07 (QNA) - The Ministry of Municipality and Environment and ExxonMobil Qatar signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) in aim to promote cooperation in the field of research and environmental sciences.

The agreement was signed by Assistant Undersecretary of Environment Affairs at Ministry of Municipality and Environment Eng. Ahmed Mohammad Al Sada and Research Director at ExxonMobil Research Qatar (EMRQ) Dr. Mohamad Yacoub Al Sulaiti. The signing ceremony was witnessed by HE Minister of Municipality and Environment Mohammed bin Abdullah Al Rumaihi, President and General Manager for ExxonMobil Qatar Alistair Routledge and representatives from the ministry and ExxonMobil Qatar. The ceremony was held at EMRQ offices in the Qatar Science and Technology Park (QSTP).

"Our relationship with ExxonMobil has furthered the general impact on a number of our projects at the Ministry of Municipality and Environment, and we are pleased to be entering another phase of our strong partnership," said HE the minister said.

"Our teams have been actively working together to protect habitats and species for years now. With ExxonMobil Research Qatar's support, we are collecting scientific data that can be used to help assess the overall health of various species that are indigenous to Qatar, and allows us to understand what needs to be done to ensure their longevity," HE the minister added.

"We are pleased to build on our longstanding relationship with the Ministry of Municipality and Environment with this MoU signing," said Routledge.

"ExxonMobil is committed to responsibly support the sustainable development, and the work we do at EMRQ supports this commitment. By sharing knowledge with our partners in Qatar, we aim to contribute to programs that are important to the country and its people." Following the ceremony, His Excellency toured EMRQ's laboratories and training facilities and spoke to its staff of geologists, engineers and environmental scientists, many of whom are Qatari nationals. EMRQ, which is an affiliate of ExxonMobil Qatar, has worked closely with the Ministry of Municipality and Environment since its establishment. Over the years, ExxonMobil's technical consultants have collaborated with several of the administrative units at the ministry, providing advice and support for various projects and workshops.

Eng. Ahmed Mohammad Al Sada said the ministry aims to protect the environment in Qatar, diversify its resources and preserve its in order to achieve sustainable development. The ministry also aims to protect the longevity of living and non-living natural resources, fisheries and ensuring the quality of the environment and health through increased environmental awareness.

He added that EMQ and the companies affiliated with it in the country, contribute to supporting research that promotes sciences and technology through a number of projects in the areas of environmental management, water reuse, liquefied natural gas (LNG) safety and coastal geology.

Speaking during the signing ceremony, Dr. Al Sulaiti said EMRQ works hard to achieve a wide range of communication objectives at the level of society and the industry, noting that the center supports sustainable development in Qatar in order to build a challenging society and prepare a generation of Qataris with the skills to compete at all levels to achieve these goals.

 The programs of ExxonMobil Research Qatar also covers several areas such as risk management and preparedness for emergency management, environmental management, education and professional development.

 Al Sulaiti stressed that the achieved work would not have been possible without comprehensive partnerships such as those between EMRQ and the Ministry of Municipality and Environment, which provides an opportunity for scientists and researchers at the research center to conduct advanced research in the areas of environmental management, reuse of water and safety in the LNG sector and surface geology.

 Dr. Al Sulaiti pointed out that the study of the basic environmental survey is a model for cooperation between the work teams of the Ministry of Municipality and Environment and ExxonMobil Research Qatar. He expressed his delight to present the study to the ministry, stressing his confidence that it will be a fruitful beginning of future efforts to protect the rich marine and coastal diversity of Qatar.

 He pointed out that a team of marine environment experts studied the area north of Ras Laffan Industrial City and south of Al Ruwais to provide comprehensive and accurate basic environmental information. This area was chosen for study because its impact on coastal development is minimal besides being a clean marine area devoid of any industrial activity and with a rich biological diversity.

 The study provides information on the current environmental characteristics of the region, helps identify and predicts future environmental impacts, and contains recommendations for effective measures to enhance the protection of the region and valuable marine life.

 EMRQ and the ministry assumed their first collaborative efforts in 2010. The two partners have conducted a number of joint assessments, including an assessment of sensitive habitats such as corals and seagrasses; a water quality assessment for different regions around the State of Qatar; and an aquifer characterization study, to understand fundamental controls on aquifer quality.

 They also collaborated on the Khor Al Adaid project, an integrated sedimentlogical and oceanographic study, and EMRQ has provided consultancy and assistance with Qatar's Integrated Coastal Zone Management Plan project.

 Since 2014, MME has supported a project between EMRQ and Texas A and M at Galveston (TAMUG), to further environmental research and marine mammal initiatives and address the preservation of dugongs - large, long-living herbivorous marine mammals found in Qatar's coastal waters.

 In 2010, EMRQ concluded a comprehensive ecological baseline study of northeastern Qatar with Qatar University's Environmental Studies Center. The study focused on an ecologically rich and biologically productive area along a 35 km stretch of the Qatar Marine Zone (QMZ). A team of experienced marine ecologists studied the area to provide adequate and accurate ecological baseline information. Thanks to the study, scientists involved in the work now have a better understanding of this coastal and marine zones existing ecological characteristics, and can identify and predict potential ecological impacts.

 EMRQ was set up at QSTP in 2009 to conduct research in areas of common interest to the State of Qatar and ExxonMobil, including environmental management, water reuse, LNG safety and coastal geology.

 ExxonMobil, the largest publicly traded international oil and gas company, uses technology and innovation to help meet the world's growing energy needs. It holds an industry-leading inventory of resources, is the largest refiner and marketer of petroleum products, and its chemical company is one of the largest in the world. The term ExxonMobil is used for convenience and may include Exxon Mobil Corporation or any affiliates it directly or indirectly stewards. (QNA)