The first phase of a GCC-wide power grid will be up and running in early 2009. It is expected to save money, improve efficiency and reduce the chances of power cuts.The Dammam-based GCC Interconnection Authority general manager Adnan Al Mohaisen said the grid was on target to be commissioned at the end of next year, but would be operational during the first quarter of 2009. It is expected to result in a 50 per cent reduction in the operational reserve, compared to an isolated grid.
'The main objective of the GCC interconnection is the sharing of reserves between the member states without sacrificing individual supply reliability,' said Al Mohaisen.
He added isolated grids needed to generate much more electricity than is likely to be actually needed.
'This is because a sudden surge in demand could overload and trip the system,' he said.
'With an interconnected grid, this can be substantially reduced by as much as 50pc, saving a lot of time and energy.'
In any event, each member state would be able to import up to the value of its interconnection size, which for Bahrain is 600 megawatts per day. For the UAE it is 900, for Saudi Arabia 1,200, for Oman 400, for Qatar 750 and for Kuwait 1,200.
'The first phase includes the interconnection of Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Qatar, which is known as the GCC North Grid,' said Al Mohaisen.
'The second phase will include the introduction of independent systems in the UAE and Oman. This is called the South Grid, which the authority is not involved in.
'The third phase includes the interconnection of the South and North Grid, which completes the interconnection of all six GCC countries.'
Bahrain owns 9pc of the authority, which has an authorised capital of $1.1 billion (BD415.8 million). The UAE owns 15.4pc, Saudi Arabia 31.6pc, Oman 5.6pc, Qatar, 11.7pc and Kuwait 26.7pc. Al Mohaisen revealed details of the project at the Power-Gen Middle East Exhibition and Conference, which closed at the Bahrain International Exhibition Centre yesterday.
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