Oman sign three agreements to join GCC electricity interconnection grid

MUSCAT, Nov 20 (KUNA) -- Oman signed on Thursday three agreements to become a full member of the Gulf Cooperation Council Interconnection Authority (GCCIA), the first a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), the second on the statute, and the third a general agreement.
The agreements were signed on behalf of Oman by the President of the Omani Public Authority for Electricity and Water Mohammad bin Abdullah Al-Mahrouqi.
After the signing ceremony, Omani Minister in Charge of Financial Affairs Darwish bin Ismail Al-Baloshi said that the GCCIA project is considered one of the most important economic projects for the region.
The project allows one country with surplus capacity to meet any supply shortfall experienced by another. It also enhances energy conservation and efficiency of supply, while reducing grid operating costs among GCC countries, Al-Baloshi added.
He noted that blackouts will also be significantly mitigated as a result, particularly when breakdowns or other such systemic failures occur elsewhere across the integrated grid.
The minister noted that the GCCIA project will depend on natural gas as source which will utilize that source more wisely and efficiently.
Earlier, GCC Secretary General Dr. Abdullatif Al-Zayani delivered a speech on the occasion marking the completion of the third phase of the project after Oman joined GCC countries.
Al-Zayani added the project aims also to enable the electricity energy become available under all circumstances, noting that the total cost of the project reached USD 1 billion and half. (end) ahr.mb