Summer power cuts 'inevitable' - Bahrain Minister

A leading Bahraini minister has admitted power cuts are inevitable this summer, as demand surges due to the nation's reliance on air-conditioning.

Works Minister Fahmi Al Jowder said there had been 10 blackouts in the last week of May but added that efforts were underway to limit the problem.

"People shouldn't be blaming us for the cuts because the weather then reached 52C and I don't believe any machine can withstand it," said Al Jowder, who is also in charge of the Electricity and Water Authority (EWA), in comments published by Gulf Daily News on Tuesday.

"Yes, we are trying to limit cuts, but it is impossible to stop them because anything may go wrong with the machines or the network."

He told the paper a cash shortage had scuppered plans to develop the Tubli Power Plant, among other projects, but said talks were underway to secure finance.

"The mechanism of funding is being negotiated with the Finance Ministry and if it gives the go ahead, we can start work on the plant.

"We also have plans to improve our electricity distribution system and have recently finished work on four substations, which will be operative in the next 10 days.

He said the EWA operated just three substations in 2007, but the figure increased to 13 last year.

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