Bahrain and other GCC countries have presented their final proposals to a Canadian consultant on the new GCC power grid, it has been revealed.

The project, the first phase of which is expected to be completed in December next year, will allow Bahrain to tap electricity from its neighbours.

Board members of the GCC Interconnection Authority, representing all the six countries, held their third and last meeting in Manama with Canadian engineering-construction firm, SNC-Lavalin.

The Bahraini delegation to the three-day meeting was headed by Electricity and Water Ministry Under Secretary Dr Abdulmajeed Al Awadhi.

"All technical and legal aspects of the project were discussed," Dr Al Awadhi said.

"These included the operation and maintenance of the project when it is ready, the type of protection each country should have and the trading of electricity between the six countries."

Dr Al Awadhi said the grid was on target to be completed at the end of next year.

"The main objective of the GCC interconnection is the sharing of reserves between the member states without sacrificing individual supply reliability," he noted.

Work on the first phase, which includes the interconnection of Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Qatar, using submarine cables, will be completed in December next year, said Dr Al Awadhi.

This project is called the GCC North Grid.

Another project connecting UAE and Oman, called the South Grid, has already been completed.

The final phase which will include the interconnection of the South and North Grids will be completed by 2010, said Dr Al Awadhi.

"When the first phase comes on line by the first quarter of 2009, Bahrain will be able to import 600 megawatts per day when needed and up to 1,200mw during emergencies," he revealed.

"We do not have to build additional plants and the project will also help us reduce the spare capacity by 50 per cent."

Each member state would be able to import up to the value of its interconnection size, which for Bahrain is 600mw per day.

Bahrain owns nine per cent of the authority, which has an authorised capital of $1.1 billion (BD415.8 million).

Bahrain's current electricity production is 2,700mw, while the demand this year so far peaked at 1,950mw.

The demand is expected to reach 2,100mw in the coming two months, said Dr Al Awadhi.

"Though we have enough capacity, we always advise people to conserve power," he added. Trade Arabia News Service