The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries signed on Wednesday a contract to implement a project linking the Gulf electricity market with Iraq. The project aims to strengthen energy security and will allow the GCC states to supply Iraq with approximately 3.94 terawatt-hours of electricity annually at competitive prices.
The signing ceremony took place at the Gulf Electricity Interconnection Authority headquarters in Dammam (eastern Saudi Arabia), under the patronage of Prince Saud bin Bandar bin Abdulaziz, Deputy Governor of the Eastern Province.
The event also marked the inauguration of an upgrade to the control center systems of the Gulf Electricity Interconnection Authority. The ceremony was attended by the Authority’s CEO, Eng. Ahmed Al-Ibrahim, and the CEO of the Gulf Laboratory Company, Eng. Saleh Al-Omari.
The Deputy Governor launched the upgraded control center systems for the electricity interconnection network, designed to improve the efficiency and flexibility of electricity systems in addressing both current and future challenges.
The upgrade also enhances cybersecurity by adopting advanced technologies that offer high levels of protection against cyberattacks and growing threats, ensuring safe and efficient operations. This initiative is expected to contribute to improved grid stability, boost operational capacity, and support the transition to clean energy.
Prince Saud noted that the project linking Iraq to the Gulf electricity market will help ensure a sustainable energy supply, facilitate local projects, and enhance the stability of Iraq’s electrical grid. This will reduce reliance on costly traditional energy sources and increase the efficient use of available resources.
He added that the project is considered one of the key strategic initiatives that foster economic and social cooperation between the GCC and neighboring countries.
For his part, Al-Ibrahim said that since its launch, the project has successfully prevented any partial or total blackouts in GCC electricity networks by providing immediate emergency support. The interconnected grid, which spans over 1,000 kilometers from Kuwait to Oman, has facilitated more than 2,800 instances of power support since operations began, including over 50 cases of renewable energy loss.
He revealed that the project has so far saved approximately $3.6 billion in costs, compared to the project’s investment and operational expenses, which totaled around $1.5 billion.
