Bahrain is set to host a $50,000 (BD18,900) Energy Centre, said to be the first of its kind in the Gulf, which will help in conserving scarce supplies, develop more facilities and explore new areas of development.

It is being set up in co-operation between the National Oil and Gas Authority (Noga) and United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and will investigate energy conservation, its sources and production.

An agreement was earlier signed by Energy Minister Dr Abdulhussain Mirza and former UNDP resident representative and UN resident co-ordinator Sayed Aqa.

'All aspects of energy from its production to delivery to the final user will be covered,' said Dr Mirza.

'Noga and the UNDP have signed and agreement in June last year for the development of the centre. The first phase of the agreement, that of conducting feasibility studies is over and we should see the centre established soon.'

Dr Mirza said a major expansion of the country's electricity grid and water distribution network was also set to be completed this year.

'The Electricity and Water Authority (EWA) has developed its expansion plans for power and water production and transmission to meet the forecast demand,' he said.

'The first phase of the Al Dur power and water plant is nearing commissioning and this will add 1,234 megawatts of power and 48 million gallon per day of water to the network.'

Dr Mirza said the existing (2007-2011) electricity transmission expansion project consisting of 40 primary substations will result in 76 per cent additional power transmission capacity in the 220 kV level and 40 per cent in the 66 kV level.

'The water transmission expansion project will improve the quality and quantity of potable water to cover all areas in Bahrain and will increase the strategic storage capacity to more than three days of average daily demand,' he said.

The EWA is reviewing growth in various categories of loads like domestic, commercial and industrial, in the next two years.

'This includes the second phase of the Al Dur power and water treatment plant, which will increase capacity between 1200-1500 MW,' he said. – TradeArabia News Service