Bahrain signs up to $1.2bn GCC power project

POWER PLAN: Bahrain has signed up to an agreement to establish a GCC power grid. (Getty Images)

Bahrain has followed Saudi Arabian in signing up to an agreement to establish a GCC-wide power grid.

The deal will allow Bahrain to exchange power with other member countries once the first phase of the grid goes live in May, officials said.

The power plan, which aims to give member states access to floating power capacity in the region consists of a North Grid -  Bahrain, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and Qatar - and a South Grid connecting the UAE and Oman, Bahrain's Works Minister Fahmi Al Jowder said in comments published by Gulf Daily News on Thursday.

The final phase of the power project would see both grids connected.

"Bahrain and other GCC nations will now greatly benefit since they can draw the reserve power from the grid in times of emergency, thus eliminating any shortages in the future," he told the paper.

Electricity and Water Authority chief executive Dr Abdulmajeed Al Awadhi said that the general agreement signed on Wednesday would be followed by the Power Exchange Trade Agreement (Peta) on April 2, in Al Khobar, Saudi Arabia.

He said the Peta, once signed by all members, would define the buying and selling terms between the Gulf states.

Bahrain has already paid $134 million towards the $1.2 billion cost of the project.

Print | Email | Discuss this article

| Share |

READERS' COMMENTS

Click here to post a comment

Add your Comment All posts are sent to the administrator for review and are published only after approval. ArabianBusiness.com reserves the right to remove any comment at any time for any reason. Please keep your responses appropriate and on topic. Arabian Business would like to point out that only comments relevant to the story will be published. Any containing personal insults or inappropriate language will not be approved.
Name *
Remember me on this computer
Email *	(Your email address will not be published)
City
Country
Subject *
Comment *
Notify me of further comments
Enter the words above *
Please click post only once - your comment will not be published immediately.

MORE FROM ARABIANBUSINESS.COM