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22:08 GMT
RIYADH, June 8 (KUNA) -- Governor of Saudi Arabia's Eastern Region Prince Saud bin Naif bin Abdulaziz inaugurated the power hookup project between Iraq and the Gulf Cooperation Council Interconnection Authority (GCCIA) on Thursday.
The ceremony gathered GCC Secretary-General Jassem Al-Budaiwi, Iraqi Minister of Electricity Ziad Ali Fadhil and ministers of electricity of the GCC member states, including Kuwait's Minister of Electricity, Water and Renewable Energy Eng. Mutlaq Abu-Rguba.
Prince Saud bin Naif hailed the project as a landmark step in the strategy of GCCIA for regional integration, according to a statement from the Secretariat of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC).
"The project will bring about many economic benefits to the countries of the region and open new horizon for economic cooperation," he added.
On his part, the GCC chief said the interconnection project is one of the most ambitious infrastructure projects for the GCC countries.
"The project will serve as a backup for the GCC power emergency response system and offset the carbon emissions in the entire region," Al-Budaiwi added. (pickup previous)
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