GCC states accelerated the exchange of electricity through the unified GCC power network between 2011 and 2013 with the total energy trade volume surging to more than $1.82 billion, said an expert.

The interconnected electricity network of the Gulf region saves fuel expenses used to generate energy and also helps reduce production and operation expenses of electricity generation in the GCC electrical networks," explained Dr Matar Al Neyadi, the undersecretary of the UAE Ministry of Energy and chairman of the board of directors of the GCCIA.

This also leads to savings in the operational costs as energy import and exchange become cost effective, he added.

Al Neyadi will be a key speaker at the third Regional Power Trade Forum 2014 which opens on Sunday (September 28) at Yas Viceroy Hotel in Abu Dhabi.

The regional forum will see the presence of board members, members of consulting and organising committee and high level delegations from across the GCC states besides the international experts in the fields of energy and energy marketing.

The Gulf network has been a major contributor to the increase in the region's electricity reserves and exchange of energy during emergencies across all Gulf States.

The GCC Interconnection Authority (GCCIA) has revealed that the GCC electricity interlinks have diminished incidents of blackouts, whose number had reached 1,072 by 2009.

The incidents of blackouts usually happen due to loss of generation units or heavy loads in peak times on interconnected networks. The GCC interconnection network power has exceeded 50,000 MW (megawatt), it added.

The forum will see experts hightlight the importance of GCC electricity linkage project, and term it as a pillar in Gulf’s economic integration, said the organisers.

GCCIA will also highlight the European experience in this domain and ways of transferring it to the Gulf region.

Adnan Bin Ibrahim Al-Muhaisin, the chief executive of GCCIA, said this forum will showcase case studies from Europe, Asia, and America in electricity linkage networks, by exchanging expertise, highlighting industry updates, giving insights into available opportunities in Gulf energy market, as well as studying electricity exchange constraints and ways to overcome them.

Al-Muhaisin pointed out that the volume of electricity exchange between GCC states touched 46.31 Gigawatts (GW) during 2011 through bilateral trade contracts. While the volume of unscheduled electricity exchange in GCC mounted to 831 GW last year.

GCC electricity exchange volume could be increased by using more efficient generating units and accommodating increased loads at peak time which will reduce generating costs, he added.-TradeArabia News Service