GCC leaders officially launch electricity linkage project

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Leaders of Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Oman signed documents virtually at computer screens at the theater hall in Bayan Palace that will pave way for the official launch of the first phase of the electricity linkage project.

The first phase, to cost some USD 1.212 billion, will include Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Bahrain. A second phase will be designed to put in place infrastructure of the power grids in the UAE and Oman to enable them to join the third phase which will ultimately hook all six GCC countries though a single network in the second quarter of 2011.

The cost of the electricity linkage project is estimated at USD 1.6 billion.
The cost of the project has been shared by the GCC members each according to electricity surplus it is ready to give out.

Contributions of member states would depend on electricity production, meaning the more power your generate the more the financial contributions would be.

Saudi Arabia’s contribution in the overall cost would be 31.6 percent, Kuwait’s 26.7 percent, UAE would be 15.4 percent, Bahrain nine percent and Oman six percent.

Chairman of the Electricity Interconnection Authority (EIA) Yusuf Jahahi had said earlier today that the annual operational cost of the project would be around USD 50 million, and noted the venture would provide 5,000 megawatts from the overall electricity-production capacity of the GCC.

The EIA Chairman went on to say that a GCC country would be supplied with electricity through the joint power grids if the power cut exceeded five hours.

The launching ceremony of the electricity linkage project was, meanwhile, attended by His Highness the Amir of Kuwait Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah Bin Abdulaziz of Saudi Arabia, Bahraini King Sheikh Hamad Bin Essa Al-Khalifa, UAE President Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al-Nuhayyan, Qatari Amir Sheikh Hamad Bin Khalifa Al-Thani and Represantative of the Sultan of Oman, Deputy Premier for Cabinet Affairs Fahad Bin Mahmoud Al-Saeed.

The ceremony was also attended by HH the Crown Prince of Kuwait Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah. It was also attended by official delegations accompanying g the leaders.

The ceremony began with a recitation of the Holy Quran, followed by a poetic scene titled "Dream of Generations", which was performed by Hamad Jamal Bu-Nashi, which claimed the attendance’s admiration.

Leaders were then shown a presentation that included pre-recorded speeches by GCC Secretary General Abdulrahman Al-Attiyah, Bahraini Minister of Public Works and Minister in Charge of the Electricity and Water Authority Fahmi Bin Ali Al-Jawdar, Saudi Minister of Electricity and Water Abdullah Bin Abdulrahman Al-Hussain, Qatari Energy Minister Abdullah Bin Hamad Al-Attiyah, Kuwaiti Electricity and Water Minister Dr. Bader Shabeeb Al-Shuraiaan and UAE Energy Minister Mohammad Bin Dhaen Al-Hamli.

Other attendees were Secretary General of the Omani Ministry of National Economy Mohammad Bin Nasser Al-Khuseibi, Chairman of the GCC Electricity Interconnection Authority (EIA) Yusuf Ahmad Al-Janahi and CEO of the project Dr. Adnan Al-Moheisen.

 

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