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.
