09 January, 2011Major power grid boost for the Gulf
A massive power grid connecting the Gulf with other countries across Africa could be funded by the World Bank, it has emerged.
It would link the GCC with North African countries such as Egypt, Sudan and Ethiopia, as well as Morocco, Algeria, Libya, Tunisia, Mauritania and the Western Sahara, according to the Saudi Gazette.
Details of the plan were revealed during a Press conference at the World Bank's Cairo office, which heard the gigantic electricity network could link grids throughout the Middle East and extend them further using a "smart grid".
The proposal has been described as the first step on the road to an ambitious, 400 billion euro (BD201bn) project known as the Desertec initiative, which involves creating a solar technology belt across the Middle East and North Africa.
This would then deliver power back to Europe through an undersea "super grid", providing carbon-free energy that could reportedly supply up to 20 per cent of European energy needs by 2050.
A World Bank representative told the Press conference in Egypt that countries included in the proposed GCC-Africa power grid had different peak times, meaning they would be able to "borrow" extra power from each other when they needed it.
The GDN reported last April that power from the GCC could be shared with Europe to help it cope with freezing winters.
GCC Interconnection Authority chief executive officer Adnan Al Mohaisen said the Gulf region only needs spare power during the hot summer months.
Bahrain, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait are already connected to a regional power grid, with the UAE and Oman set to be added either this year or next year.
Source : Kuwait News Agency
