GCC 'can supply EU with power'
15 April, 2010
Electricity from the GCC power grid could be shared with Europe to help it cope with freezing winters, an official revealed yesterday.
The region only needs the spare power during the hot summer months and it would remain idle in winter, said GCC Interconnection Authority (GCCIA) chief executive officer Adnan Al Mohaisen.
"We would then want to share that spare capacity with the West," he told the GDN on the sidelines of a GCCIA meeting at the Gulf Hotel.
"There are shortages in some parts of Europe in those days we will be glad to chip in."
Mr Al Mohaisen said the power would be passed on from country to country to eventually reach Europe.
"This is just a proposal as yet but we would want to discuss it and take the proposal further," he said.
The GCCIA meeting was attended by representatives of all the six GCC states, who reviewed the progress made on the grid in the last nine months when its first phase was commissioned.
Following the $ 1.2 billion (BD453m) linking of Bahrain, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait, more than 1,200 megawatts of additional power became available.
Bahrain is 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 Mr Al Mohaisen.
"The two grids will then be connected, possibly by the end of 2011 or early 2012."
Mr 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.
Electricity and Water Authority (EWA) chief executive officer Dr Abdul Majeed Al Awadhi said Bahrain had been connected to the grid with two lines of 600mw each.
"While we are already self-sufficient in the power we need for the country, we will still be able to tap into the grid if we need," he said.
Dr Al Awadhi said while the grid power would be available for free in an emergency, it would be paid for if required otherwise.
"Slowly and gradually, we will reduce the spare capacity at our disposal," he said.
Dr Al Awadhi added the grid would help Gulf states exchange electricity to meet growing needs, utilise their surplus output, save money on new projects and ensure uninterrupted supply.
"This is a new era in economic integration and co-operation in the power sector among the GCC states," he said.
Once fully connected, any GCC state suffering a sudden disruption in its power supply will be able to dip into the supply of its neighbours.
If one member has surplus power, part of it will be leased to another with a deficit or sudden shortage.
Dr Al Awadhi said the project was also expected to save money because member countries would have to build fewer power stations as a result.
He said the GCC was witnessing rapid growth in power consumption as a result of economic expansion and high population growth.
"Power demand is growing more than 10 per cent annually in the GCC and this is one of the highest in the world," he said.
The power grid project was launched nearly eight years after being approved by GCC heads of state in the mid-1990s.
It was overseen by the GCCIA based in Dammam, Saudi Arabia.
Bahrain signed an agreement in March enabling it to import up to 600mw a day from the grid or up to 1,200mw during emergencies.
The interconnection project is being undertaken by Italian-Norwegian joint venture Prysmian-Nexans, which subcontracted the laying of land cables in Bahrain to Alkomed Engineering.
Five kilometres of cables are being put in place from the landing point of King Fahad Causeway to a substation in Jasra.
Electricity from the GCC power grid could be shared with Europe to help it cope with freezing winters, an official revealed yesterday.
The region only needs the spare power during the hot summer months and it would remain idle in winter, said GCC Interconnection Authority (GCCIA) chief executive officer Adnan Al Mohaisen.
"We would then want to share that spare capacity with the West," he told the GDN on the sidelines of a GCCIA meeting at the Gulf Hotel.
"There are shortages in some parts of Europe in those days we will be glad to chip in."
Mr Al Mohaisen said the power would be passed on from country to country to eventually reach Europe.
"This is just a proposal as yet but we would want to discuss it and take the proposal further," he said.
The GCCIA meeting was attended by representatives of all the six GCC states, who reviewed the progress made on the grid in the last nine months when its first phase was commissioned.
Following the $ 1.2 billion (BD453m) linking of Bahrain, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait, more than 1,200 megawatts of additional power became available.
Bahrain is 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 Mr Al Mohaisen.
"The two grids will then be connected, possibly by the end of 2011 or early 2012."
Mr 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.
Electricity and Water Authority (EWA) chief executive officer Dr Abdul Majeed Al Awadhi said Bahrain had been connected to the grid with two lines of 600mw each.
"While we are already self-sufficient in the power we need for the country, we will still be able to tap into the grid if we need," he said.
Dr Al Awadhi said while the grid power would be available for free in an emergency, it would be paid for if required otherwise.
"Slowly and gradually, we will reduce the spare capacity at our disposal," he said.
Dr Al Awadhi added the grid would help Gulf states exchange electricity to meet growing needs, utilise their surplus output, save money on new projects and ensure uninterrupted supply.
"This is a new era in economic integration and co-operation in the power sector among the GCC states," he said.
Once fully connected, any GCC state suffering a sudden disruption in its power supply will be able to dip into the supply of its neighbours.
If one member has surplus power, part of it will be leased to another with a deficit or sudden shortage.
Dr Al Awadhi said the project was also expected to save money because member countries would have to build fewer power stations as a result.
He said the GCC was witnessing rapid growth in power consumption as a result of economic expansion and high population growth.
"Power demand is growing more than 10 per cent annually in the GCC and this is one of the highest in the world," he said.
The power grid project was launched nearly eight years after being approved by GCC heads of state in the mid-1990s.
It was overseen by the GCCIA based in Dammam, Saudi Arabia.
Bahrain signed an agreement in March enabling it to import up to 600mw a day from the grid or up to 1,200mw during emergencies.
The interconnection project is being undertaken by Italian-Norwegian joint venture Prysmian-Nexans, which subcontracted the laying of land cables in Bahrain to Alkomed Engineering.
Five kilometres of cables are being put in place from the landing point of King Fahad Causeway to a substation in Jasra.
Gulf Daily News -
