Kuwait Discusses Completing Gulf Water Interconnection Stages and Strengthening the Electrical System

Darine Al-Ali

The Ministry of Electricity, Water, and Renewable Energy participated in the second extraordinary meeting of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Committee for Electricity and Water Cooperation, held via video conference to discuss several topics related to strengthening the electricity and water interconnection systems and supporting energy and water security.

In a press statement, the ministry said that Deputy Minister Dr. Adel Al-Zamil led the “Electricity” delegation, which included several senior officials and relevant personnel from the ministry.

According to the statement, the meeting discussed follow-up on the implementation of directives issued by the leaders of the GCC member states during the 19th Consultative Meeting held in Jeddah last April, regarding the study of the feasibility of building water interconnection projects and enhancing the GCC electricity interconnection system.

The meeting reviewed the study’s outcomes and proposed recommendations to be submitted to the Supreme Council. Among the key recommendations were completing the requirements for the first phase of bilateral water interconnection among member states, leading to collective water interconnection, as well as finalizing the study of outcomes for the second and third phases and their technical, administrative, financial, and legal requirements, thereby enhancing GCC water security.

The meeting also examined the outcomes of the study on enhancing the GCC electricity interconnection system and the recommendations related to its review in light of the observations of the Board of Directors of the GCC Interconnection Authority, with a view to submitting the agreed-upon outcomes to the Ministerial Council. It also addressed following up on progress in electricity and water interconnection projects through periodic reports submitted to the Supreme Council.

For his part, GCC Secretary-General Jassem Al-Budaiwi stated that enhancing GCC integration in the electricity and water sectors represents one of the strategic pillars for consolidating the security of GCC member states and sustaining their development.

Al-Budaiwi added that the move to strengthen the GCC electricity interconnection system and study the feasibility of creating a water interconnection project among the member states reflects the shared vision of GCC leaders toward building an integrated, more prepared, and efficient GCC system to face regional changes and developments, ensuring the continuity of vital services and enhancing the common interests of the member states and their peoples.

He emphasized that this meeting comes as a continuation of GCC efforts to translate the directives of the leaders into joint strategic projects and initiatives, and to follow up on the implementation of their decisions issued during the 19th Consultative Meeting held in Jeddah last April, concerning the enhancement of cooperation and integration in strategic sectors, foremost among them electricity and water, as they are fundamental pillars of the developmental and economic security of the member states.

He pointed out that the rapid developments witnessed in the region underscore the importance of elevating levels of coordination and GCC integration in managing vital resources, enhancing the preparedness of infrastructure, and improving its efficiency and capacity to handle various circumstances. He affirmed that joint GCC work in these two sectors constitutes an important path to enhancing the security and stability of the member states and supporting their ability to continue their developmental journey steadily and sustainably.

Al-Badawi stated that the meeting discussed two main topics of strategic importance. The first concerned the results of a study on the feasibility of constructing water interconnection projects among the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states, while the second focused on a study to enhance the GCC’s power interconnection system, thereby supporting GCC integration pathways and developing cooperation frameworks in vital sectors. He noted that, in collaboration with member states and relevant authorities, the GCC Secretariat General had, over the past period, followed up on the preparation of technical studies related to these projects by holding a series of workshops and bilateral meetings with member states and the specialized consulting company to complete data and technical comments and review the studies’ outputs at various stages, culminating in the Deputies’ Meeting held on October 20 to discuss the results and outcomes of these studies.