DOHA: GCC states are taking a closer look at the possibility of linking the rest of the Arab world to their regional electricity grid which is expected to be operational by next year.
Nearly all member-states of the GCC would have surplus power after they are inter-linked through the upcoming grid.
Qatar, for example, would produce 7,000 mega watts (MW) of electricity once the grid is ready, out of which the surplus expected is 4,000MW. The regional power generation capacity would reach an impressive 40,000MW.
If Qatar wins the 2022 World Cup bid, power consumption would go up further.
The growth in consumption is likely to be 12 percent this year. The growth rate varies between eight and 13 percent in other GCC countries, Al Sharq reported yesterday.
However, between 2009 and 2010 there have been 200 incidents of load shedding in different GCC states other than Qatar due to power shortages.
An international electricity conference will be held in the GCC this year and a technical team has been set. Members of the team told the daily: "We are mulling linking the upcoming GCC power grid to the rest of the Arab world."
"We are thinking on those lines," the members said hinting that the idea resulted from expectations of a regional power surplus after the grid becomes operational.
Experts, investors, manufacturers and decision-makers, among others, will be attending this power conference, which many say should be held in Doha.
© The Peninsula 2010
