Kuwaiti Min attends inauguration of 2nd stage of GCC power grid

By Baraka Al-Jassar (with photos) ABU DHABI, April 20 (KUNA) -- Kuwaiti Minister of Electricity and Water Bader Al-Shuraiaan attended the inauguration ceremony of the second stage of the power grid of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) member states here on Wednesday.
The project, connecting the national grid of the United Arab Emirates to the regional one, cost five billion Emirati Dirhams, some USD 1.361 billion.
Al-Shuraiaan hailed, in statements to KUNA on the sidelines of the ceremony, UAE joining the network and said that this will enhance the capacity of the regional network.
"The UAE is the fifth partner in the GCC grid after Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Bahrain. It is the second largest producer of electricity in the region after Saudi Arabia," he noted.
"The hookup of the national grids of the GCC member countries translates into action the aspirations of our nation s. We, as GCC citizens, are looking forward to more projects of joint action and full economic integration among our countries," Al-Shuraiaan affirmed.
Dealing with the domestic affairs, Al-Shuraiaan said his ministry is working to build the capacity of its personnel through training courses such as the ongoing judicial seizure course for 150 trainees.
"The Ministry is bracing for the power strains in summer. Al-Sabiyya power station will be commissioned in early June to enhance the capacity of the national back-up system," he revealed.
The inauguration ceremony, chaired by UAE Vice President and Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al-Maktoum, was attended by the ministers of electricity of the six GCC countries.
The first stage of the GCC power grid was inaugurated in Kuwait in December, 2009, in the presence of the GCC leaders.