HE Minister of State for Energy Affairs, Saad Sherida Al Kaabi took part today in a special event held to mark the start of the implementation of the Gulf Cooperation Council countries electrical interconnection project with the south of the Republic of Iraq.

The event was held in the city of Dammam, in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, under the patronage of HH the Amir of the Eastern Province Prince Saud bin Nayef bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, and their excellencies the ministers concerned with electricity affairs in the GCC countries, in the presence of members of the Electricity and Water Cooperation Committee, and their excellencies the Secretary General of the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf and the Minister of Electricity of Iraq.

This interconnection project, expected to be completed in late 2024, is the first to be implemented outside the electrical grid system of the GCC countries, and will meet some of the demand for electric power in southern Iraq with about 500 megawatts per hour. It is funded by both the Qatar Fund for Development and the Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development.

Commenting on this occasion, HE Minister Saad Sherida Al Kaabi stressed the importance of the interconnection project, pointing to the role it will play in deepening the foundations of integration, complementarity, and cooperation between the GCC countries and the Republic of Iraq, and in strengthening the Gulf electrical interconnection project, which represents one of the most important infrastructure interconnection projects approved by Their Majesties and Highnesses, the leaders of the Gulf Cooperation Council to support economic and social development in the GCC countries.

HE Minister Al Kaabi added: "We, in the State of Qatar, realize the importance of extending bridges of cooperation and common action at the Arab level. Guided by the directives of HH the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani, we spare no effort in supporting major strategic initiatives of this nature, which are pivotal in bolstering the region's energy security and have a positive impact on its stability and sustainable development across all societal spheres".

The first phase of the GCC electrical interconnection project was inaugurated on Dec. 14, 2009. This strategic project has achieved important technical and economic benefits for the GCC countries, including annual savings of USD 200-300 million US dollars annually, with cumulative savings of approximately USD 3 billion since the commencement of operations.

Source: Qatar News Agency