23 June 2010
KUWAIT: A senior official with the GCC electricity network's executive authority yesterday confirmed that Kuwait has used electricity supplies from the GCC power grid during peak hours over the last few days. The statement came as frustration continues to grow in the country about the possible solution to an expected power shortage during the summer season. Speaking to the Kuwait Times, Adnan Ibrahim Al-Muhaisen, the chief executive of the Gulf Cooperation Council Interconnection Authority (GCCIA), explained that the network is programmed to provide supply of electricity whenever there is a shortage in any member country's domestic system.
The grid is designed to provide a strategic alternative source for energy in emergency cases, and during some peak hours over the last few days, the Kuwaiti grid was supported by the other networks, which is just part of the system," Al-Muhaisen revealed.
The GCCIA head added that there had also been occasions when Kuwait supported other countries' electricity networks when they required additional power. "We just have to maintain the stability of the network," Al-Muhaisen said. "If there is a shortage of electricity in one area, the system automatically provides coverage from the other parts, but these are minor quantities, up to 70 or 80 megawatts only.
The first phase of the GCC-wide network was officially inaugurated on July 26, 2009. In this first part of the project, the networks in four of the six GCC states - Kuwait, KSA, Qatar and Bahrain - were connected, while Oman and UAE have still to be connected in the second and third phases of the project.
Al-Muhaisen said that the network is currently ready to transfer electricity between any two countries if they reach an agreement to do so, adding that the ability to do so depends wholly on the available amount of electrical power generation in the source country. The senior official explained that there are currently no agreements between Kuwait and any other states that he knows of. However, he added, the grid will provide an electricity supply in emergency cases.
The electricity deficit is expected to present a huge challenge for Kuwait during the summer, with the demand for electricity already having increased to equal the country's power generation capacity earlier this month. Kuwait relies heavily on air conditioning during the summer period, and a number of residential areas have witnessed power cuts recently.
KUWAIT: A senior official with the GCC electricity network's executive authority yesterday confirmed that Kuwait has used electricity supplies from the GCC power grid during peak hours over the last few days. The statement came as frustration continues to grow in the country about the possible solution to an expected power shortage during the summer season. Speaking to the Kuwait Times, Adnan Ibrahim Al-Muhaisen, the chief executive of the Gulf Cooperation Council Interconnection Authority (GCCIA), explained that the network is programmed to provide supply of electricity whenever there is a shortage in any member country's domestic system.
The grid is designed to provide a strategic alternative source for energy in emergency cases, and during some peak hours over the last few days, the Kuwaiti grid was supported by the other networks, which is just part of the system," Al-Muhaisen revealed.
The GCCIA head added that there had also been occasions when Kuwait supported other countries' electricity networks when they required additional power. "We just have to maintain the stability of the network," Al-Muhaisen said. "If there is a shortage of electricity in one area, the system automatically provides coverage from the other parts, but these are minor quantities, up to 70 or 80 megawatts only.
The first phase of the GCC-wide network was officially inaugurated on July 26, 2009. In this first part of the project, the networks in four of the six GCC states - Kuwait, KSA, Qatar and Bahrain - were connected, while Oman and UAE have still to be connected in the second and third phases of the project.
Al-Muhaisen said that the network is currently ready to transfer electricity between any two countries if they reach an agreement to do so, adding that the ability to do so depends wholly on the available amount of electrical power generation in the source country. The senior official explained that there are currently no agreements between Kuwait and any other states that he knows of. However, he added, the grid will provide an electricity supply in emergency cases.
The electricity deficit is expected to present a huge challenge for Kuwait during the summer, with the demand for electricity already having increased to equal the country's power generation capacity earlier this month. Kuwait relies heavily on air conditioning during the summer period, and a number of residential areas have witnessed power cuts recently.
By Ahmad Saeid
© Kuwait Times 2010
