Manama: The GCC electricity grid which was built with a cost of $2billion has averted major interruptions across the region, thanks to the efforts of the GCC Interconnection Authority.
“GCC The latest performance indicators show that since commercial operation of the grid back in July 2009, some 1100 large system disturbances have occurred locally in the six countries, due to various reasons including large loss of bulk generation,” Dr. Abdul-Hussain Mirza, Minister of State for Electricity and Water Affairs told the audience during the opening of the GCC Power 2014.
“The interconnection has played its vital role in absorbing the impact of all these disturbances, and succeeded in moving into fast system recovery and mitigating the unwanted cascaded tripping and more fatal scenarios,” Dr. Mirza, added.
Organized by the GCC Regional Committee for Electric Systems (GCC CIGRE), the conference is taking place from 10 to 12 November 2014 at Gulf Hotel with over 350 high-level industry leaders in attendance.
Dr. Abdulhussain Mirza welcomed the executives and senior officials from the various GCC electricity utilities and all visitors from outside Bahrain participating in this fruitful event.
Dr. Mirza commended the ongoing cooperation between GCC CIGRE (The regional GCC entity) and the mother Organization based in Paris, France, established in 1921, in putting their efforts together to bring researchers, scientists, specialists to such a forum that openly and frankly discusses technical scientific and research and development in a wide range of electricity issues such as Operation/ Control/ Protection systems for electricity transmission & distribution systems, the latest technological developments and computer and smart and intelligent system applications and technologies.
Dr. Mirza also commended the positive and constructive contribution of CIGRE in expanding the technical know-how of the GCC human resources specialists, through open participation and sharing experiences and presenting research and applications and publications through outstanding paper contributions.
“The Electricity and Water sector in any country in general, and in GCC in particular, have a prime role in the total economic development equation, and actually it is the sector that provides the focal point and prime lifeline for the achievement of the total national strategies”, added Dr. Mirza.
“The political leadership here in Bahrain has pledged their utmost support for this sector to achieve its aims which are embodied in the national vision 2030. As a prime focus for the Government, and of paramount importance, is the Long Term Sustainability focus, to achieve the preservation of the natural resources used in the electricity and water production and the optimization of production plants operational efficiency, enhancing energy utilization efficiency and expanding the share of renewable energies in the installed capacity of production equation”, asserted Dr. Mirza.
Dr. Mirza added that this conference provides the best platform for sharing experiences to achieve innovative solutions for the challenges facing the GCC electricity utilities, which in turn adds value to countries and societies. The conference also provides support for the international technology developers to widen their research endeavors both regionally and internationally, and acts as a conduit for sharing the latest developments in the electricity sector.
The GCC Ministers responsible for Electricity and water through their annual cooperation committee meetings have strived to achieve stronger linkage in all facets of electricity and water sector, particularly better exchange of information and experiences between the responsible utilities through the designated specialists committees,” said Dr. Mirza.
“One of the outstanding examples of this cooperation, I must say, is the successful realization of the interconnected GCC grid and the establishment of the designated entity for this purpose, namely the
“I am quite confident that the Electricity and Water Ministers will continue their support for the interconnection in its forthcoming second phase expansion and entails trading between the six GCC states and helps in reducing their burden in building additional stations and enables them to operate more efficiently”, concluded Dr. Mirza.
Dr. Mohammed Falah Rashidi representative of GCC General Secretariat, said that GCC CIGRE success is a significant result of the gulf’s esteemed leaders care to empower the GCC unified framework and enhancing GCC cooperation in all fields of interest.
Dr. Rashidi considered this event an important milestone towards the full implementation of GCC integration, which inflects the complete coherence between member countries in terms of electricity and water joint ventures.
Dr. Rashidi asserted the need of adopting new power policies that could benefit all GCC countries for the sake of achieving more success stories and reaching another edge of prosperity.
Dr. Matar Neyadi Chairman of GCCIA board of directors said that GCC Interconnection is considered one of the leading strategic projects in the region, which made GCC countries gain its fruits since its inception in 2009, benefiting from conserving electricity power, increasing credibility and efficiency levels, and avoiding disturbances by 100%.
Dr. Neyadi announced in his speech the Oman’s approval on joining GCCIA by signing the GCC interconnection agreements on 20 November, as a blessing step for full power integration between GCC members.
“GCCIA is focusing now on increasing the economic benefits of GCC interconnection by launching power trade and establishing GCC electricity market that will allow members to make the utmost uses of energy sources and conserving fossil fuel. GCC interconnection would save $180 million on a yearly basis as operative costs”, Dr.Neyadi, added.
“We are hoping to launch a GCC market for power trade soon, as we agreed upon formulating a teamwork consists of GCC experts to deal with this project during the next year,” Dr. Neyadi, said.
Eng. Saleh Mosalam chairman of GCC CIGRE stressed on CIGRE persistent commitment to support power sector in the region, tackling the current and future challenges by addressing the latest means and strategies. Moreover, facilitate and encourage the exchange of technical and technological information among its members and between them and other competent sectors in GCC states.
“Across the GCC region, demand for electric power has been growing fast, mainly due to the rapid population growth, industrial expansion, massive infrastructure development and a rise in the standard of living. Major new projects are underway to generate the needed electrical power, creating countless opportunities for new investors, developers and contractors in the region”, said Mosalam.
Mosalam mentioned that GCC POWER 2014 conference and exhibition offer the ideal forum for all those concerned with the power sector to develop business relations and discuss the issues and challenges, plus showcasing the latest technologies and services.
Philip Adams CIGRE secretary general expressed his gratitude to the Kingdom of Bahrain for hosting this event, as CIGRE continues to develop technical knowledge using conferences and meetings.
Adams confirmed CIGRE’s progress in terms of its annual conferences, especially in GCC region, which witness dramatic increases in numbers of attendees and the quality of technical subjects and papers discussed every year.
Adams asserted on CIGRE’s future goal to double the number of its members by empowering new partnerships with students and training fresh graduates from around the globe, in addition to increasing people’s awareness of CIGRE objectives and activities all around the world.
At the end of the opening ceremony, Dr. Abdul-Hussain Bin Ali Mirza State Minister for Electricity and Water Affairs cut the ribbon of the 19th exhibition for electrical equipment which will be held during the three-day GCC Power 2014, gathering more than 25 exhibitors, showcasing the latest technologies and power solutions around the globe.