GCCIA to Begin Interconnection with Iraq

Minister Ziyad Fadel discussed in Saudi Arabia proceeding with the Gulf interconnection project and proposals for its development (Iraqi electricity)
Minister Ziyad Fadel discussed in Saudi Arabia proceeding with the Gulf interconnection project and proposals for its development (Iraqi electricity)
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GCCIA to Begin Interconnection with Iraq

Minister Ziyad Fadel discussed in Saudi Arabia proceeding with the Gulf interconnection project and proposals for its development (Iraqi electricity)
Minister Ziyad Fadel discussed in Saudi Arabia proceeding with the Gulf interconnection project and proposals for its development (Iraqi electricity)

The Gulf Cooperation Council Interconnection Authority (GCCIA) will launch Thursday the implementation of the electrical interconnection project with the southern Iraq network, which is expected to be operational by the end of next year.

The governor of the Eastern Region, Prince Saud bin Naif bin Abdulaziz, will inaugurate the ceremony in the presence of GCC Sec-Gen Jassim al-Budaiwi, and Gulf and Iraqi ministers.

Chairman of the GCCIA Board Mohsen al-Hadrami asserted the importance of the event at the level of Gulf countries, reiterating that the project will boost cooperation with Iraq.

Hadrami indicated that energy security is one of the most important axes of cooperation developed through exchange between the GCC countries and Iraq, noting that it is the first step to expand outside the Gulf grid system by linking neighboring countries such as Turkey, Jordan, and Egypt.

The project is in line with the vision of the GGCC and the GCCIA to expand connectivity with the neighboring grid, reaching Europe, Africa, and Asia.

CEO of GCCIA Ahmed al-Ebrahim considered the interconnection project a key strategic project in the Gulf and one of the most important infrastructure interconnection projects approved by the GCC leaders.

He indicated that the project aims to achieve its main strategic goals of enhancing energy security, increasing reliability, and ensuring safety for Gulf grids.

Meanwhile, Iraqi Minister of Electricity Zial Fadhil visited the GCCIA headquarters in Saudi Arabia as part of his visit to the Kingdom.

Fadhil discussed the interconnection project and network stability.

He also reviewed the developments related to the required contracts, the stages completed, the implementation plan, and the connecting lines inside Kuwait.

In July 2022, the Gulf Interconnection Authority (GCCIA) signed the contract between its network and the electricity grid of southern Iraq on the sidelines of the Jeddah Security and Development Summit.

The contract includes the authority's construction of lines from its substation in Kuwait to the al-Faw station in southern Iraq to supply it with about 500 megawatts of energy from the Gulf countries. Construction will take about 24 months, with a total transmission capacity of 1,800 megawatts.

Last February, the authority concluded five contracts with the companies executing the project at a total cost of more than $200 million.



Egypt's Net Foreign Assets Slid in October

A general view shows Tahrir Square in Cairo, Egypt July 13, 2020. (Reuters)
A general view shows Tahrir Square in Cairo, Egypt July 13, 2020. (Reuters)
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Egypt's Net Foreign Assets Slid in October

A general view shows Tahrir Square in Cairo, Egypt July 13, 2020. (Reuters)
A general view shows Tahrir Square in Cairo, Egypt July 13, 2020. (Reuters)

Egypt's net foreign assets (NFAs) dropped by $1.12 billion in October after a rise in September, central bank data shows.

NFAs declined to the equivalent of $9.21 billion at the end of October from $10.33 billion at the end of September, according to Reuters calculations based on the official central bank currency rates. The decline followed a $591 million gain in September.

Egypt had been using NFAs, which include foreign assets at both the central bank and commercial banks, to help to prop up its currency since as long ago as September 2021.

NFAs turned negative in February 2022 and only returned to positive territory in May this year.

Foreign assets rose at the central bank in October but dipped at commercial banks while foreign liabilities climbed at both commercial banks and the central bank.