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Bahrain’s new plan to tackle power, water

Manama, June 18, 2013

Bahrain has introduced a three-phase "green" plan to tackle spiralling energy and water consumption, said a senior government official.

It will increase production plants, electricity transmission and distribution networks, including using a grid that connects all six Gulf countries, Minister of State for Electricity and Water Affairs Dr Abdulhussain Mirza was quoted as saying in the Gulf Daily News, our sister publication.

The scheme will also seek alternative sources of energy, aim to conserve electricity and water, and reduce polluting emissions among others.

Dr Mirza was speaking during the opening of the fourth Energy and Water Conservation Expo and Forum held at the Bahrain International Exhibition and Convention Centre yesterday.

The three-day expo, displaying a variety of energy and water conservation technologies, was organised by the Electricity and Water Authority (EWA) in co-operation with the Bahrain Society of Engineers with support from the National Oil and Gas Authority and participation from Tamkeen.

"Firstly, strengthening the infrastructure of the electricity sector, by increasing the production capacity of the plants and electricity transmission and distribution networks," he said.

"As well as raising the national electricity grid reliability through system link of Bahrain to the standard electricity network in the countries of the Gulf Co-operation Council, through the GCC Interconnection Authority (GCCIA).

"Secondly the government is on a constant lookout for alternative sources of energy and has undertaken several initiatives to explore them such as solar and wind power."

Dr Mirza said the EWA plans to build a pilot power plant with a five megawatt output in the coming months. It will incorporate a three megawatt solar power plant and a two megawatt wind power plant.

"The third phase is rationalisation and energy conservation," he added.

"This theme also features other lucrative benefits, such as reducing polluting emissions resulting from the burning of fossil fuels, reducing investment costs and routine maintenance and emergency.

"It has also other advantages in relation to the operation of the transmission and distribution networks and improves their efficiency and reduces breakdowns and electrical faults."

However, Bahrain's economic growth will also significantly affect its energy resources.

The country has made great strides as its GDP has doubled in just five years, increasing from about $13 billion in 2005 to more than $26 billion in 2011.

"Most forecasts suggest energy consumption will increase by more than 60 per cent by 2030, which is a burden on the world's energy resource stocks," said GPIC president Abdulrahman Jawahery, whose company is a gold sponsor of the event.

"This increase is due mainly to economic growth in many countries," he said.

Meanwhile, Bahrain Society for Engineers president Majeed Al Gassab said Bahrain was moving towards becoming more eco-friendly to attract international business and investment.

Conservation

"We need to concentrate on energy conservation and energy saving," he said.

"We need this as it is the only way to challenge the international market. Outsiders will not accept an environmentally polluted company to deal with. We need to be very careful and need to meet international requirement, laws and legislation to market our products to an international community." – TradeArabia News Service




Tags: Bahrain | Energy and Water Conservation Expo |

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