The Ministry of Electricity and Water will this week meet with a number of Gulf countries to discuss the possibility of purchasing energy through the Gulf Interconnection power network during the current summer, with the aim of purchasing approximately 500 megawatts to secure the network during summer.
The sources said the meetings aim to find out two things, the first is the amount that each country can provide separately, as well as the price offers, noting that the ministry will initially meet with one of the countries, followed by a meeting with a second country, and the meetings will continue with the rest of the Gulf countries, respectively so that the Ministry can have a complete vision, reports Al-Qabas daily.
The sources pointed out that, in light of the information that will be provided, the ministry will decide how it will provide what it needs, whether from one country or several countries as well as the daily hours and months during which power will be imported from each country during the summer peak hours.
She explained that the aim of the experiment stems from evaluating the economic impact of energy trade and knowing the economic feasibility of purchasing compared to the cost of production for the same target amount and what the ministry bears later in terms of operating and maintenance costs.
The sources stressed that the goal of the import process is not related to a shortage in production during the coming summer, as the available installed energy is estimated at 18,000 megawatts, while the peak consumption is expected not to exceed 17,000 megawatts, noting that the ministry aims for safe operation of the network and the presence of a comfortable reserve in anticipation for any emergency that may arise