Qatar - GCC Grid's Phase-1 Completed.

The first phase of GCC power grid was completed on July 26, 2009, with the linking of the networks of Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar and Saudi Arabia. GCC Inter-Connection Authority (GCCIA) Chairman Yusuf Janahi on July 26 said the UAE and Oman will link to the grid in 2011. The GCCIA is supervising the project.

The six GCC states, which gave the go-ahead for the grid in 2004 after the project was declared technically feasible, hope the $1.4bn venture will help them meet rapidly rising power demand and avoid outages. Janahi said: "The grid aims at guaranteeing an adequate supply of power in emergencies and reducing the cost of power generation in member countries. There will of course be other economic gains".

Various stages of the linking operation included completion of the inter-connection of the Qatari grid with Kuwait's on July 20 and the commissioning of the first cycle of a marine cable between Bahrain and the main GCCIA grid on July 21. Janahi said the first phase included a double-circuit 400kV, 50Hz line from al-Zour in Kuwait to Ghunan in Saudi Arabia with an intermediate connection at Fadhili and associated sub-stations and a back-to-back HVDC inter-connection to the 380kV, 60Hz system at Fadhili.

A double circuit 400kV comprises overhead lines and a sub-marine link from Ghunan to al-Jasra in Bahrain and associated sub-stations. Janahi added: "Now the work on the inter-connection between the UAE and Oman is under way and is scheduled to be completed in 2011". The resulting two mega-grids will be joined in the final phase. Janahi said the formal inauguration of the GCC grid is scheduled for December when the 30th GCC summit meets in Kuwait. Saudi Arabia offered to meet 40% of the cost of the first phase, while Kuwait provided 36.5%, Qatar 13.5% and Bahrain 10%.

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