GCC Secretary-General: Study the possibility of creating a water linkage project between member states
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GCC Secretary-General Jassem Al-Budaiwi emphasized the importance of enhancing Gulf integration in the electricity and water sectors by studying water and power linkage projects to ensure developmental security and the sustainability of vital services.
Translated by Qiyas from الراي — Original source
The Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) States, Jassem Al-Budaiwi, stated today that the move to enhance the GCC power interconnection system and the study of the feasibility of establishing a water interconnection project among GCC member states reflect the shared vision of the GCC leaders toward building an integrated, more prepared, and efficient GCC system to face regional changes and developments, thereby ensuring the continuity of vital services and strengthening the common interests of the GCC states and their peoples.
During a speech delivered at the extraordinary meeting of the GCC Committee for Electricity and Water Cooperation, held via video conference and chaired by Bahrain’s Minister of Electricity and Water Affairs, Yasser Humaidan (current chair of the committee), and attended by committee members, Al-Budaiwi emphasized that enhancing GCC integration in the electricity and water sectors constitutes one of the strategic pillars for consolidating the security of GCC states and sustaining their development.
He noted that this meeting follows up on GCC efforts to translate the directives of GCC leaders into joint strategic projects and initiatives, and to monitor the implementation of decisions issued at the 19th Consultative Meeting held in Jeddah last April, which focused on enhancing 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 GCC states.
He pointed out that the rapid developments in the region underscore the importance of elevating levels of GCC coordination and 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 action in these two sectors constitutes an important path to enhancing the security and stability of the GCC states and supporting their ability to continue their developmental trajectory with steadfastness and sustainability.
Al-Budaiwi explained that the meeting discusses two main topics of strategic importance: the first concerns the results of the study on the feasibility of building water interconnection projects among the GCC states, while the second addresses the study on enhancing the GCC power interconnection system, which contributes to supporting GCC integration pathways and developing cooperation systems in vital sectors.
He noted that the General Secretariat, in cooperation with member states and relevant authorities, has been following up on the preparation of technical studies related to these projects over the past period through a series of workshops and bilateral meetings with member states and the specialized consulting company to complete data and technical comments, and to review the outputs of the studies at their various stages, leading up to the meeting of deputies held on October 20 last, to discuss the results and outputs of these studies.
Al-Budaiwi expressed his appreciation for the efforts made by member states and relevant authorities, in cooperation with the General Secretariat and the GCC Interconnection Authority, in preparing these studies and following up on their work. He emphasized the importance of building on the technical and institutional efforts achieved to reach practical recommendations that support moving forward with these vital projects, with a view to submitting them to the GCC Supreme Council.
