GCC electricity grid to be functional by 2012

GCC electricity grid to be functional by 2012

Construction of the GCC interconnector will allow GCC countries to share electricity amongst themselves

April 15, 2010 9:29 by Katherine Azmeh

The GCC integrated electricity grid will be fully operational by later next year or early 2012 linking all the Gulf countries,” the GCC Interconnection Authority (GCCIA) Chief Executive Officer Adnan Al-Mohaisen told a meeting in Manama on Wednesday.

“The $1.2 billion project linking Bahrain, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait, will make more than 1,200 megawatts of additional power available,” he added.

The GCCIA meeting was attended by representatives of all the six GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council) states, who reviewed the progress made on the grid in the last nine months when its first phase was commissioned.

He said Bahrain would be included in the first phase of the network, called the Northern Grid while the UAE and Oman, who are yet to be linked, will be included in the Southern Grid.

“While the UAE would be linked in the first quarter of next year, Oman will follow a few months later,” said Al-Mohaisen.

“The two grids will then be connected, possibly by the end of 2011 or early 2012.”

Al-Mohaisen said extensive testing of the commissioned network had ensured it was in excellent condition.

“While testing, 1,300mw were transmitted over 10 hours continuously and it passed all stringent measures,” he said.

–Arabnews