GCC Secretary-General: Study the possibility of creating a water interconnection project among 'Gulf' countries

The Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) States, Jassem Al-Budaiwi, stated on Thursday that enhancing Gulf integration in the electricity and water sectors constitutes one of the six strategic pillars for consolidating the security of GCC member states and ensuring their sustainable development.

The GCC Secretariat General noted that this remark was made during a speech delivered by Al-Budaiwi at the extraordinary meeting of the GCC Electricity and Water Cooperation Committee, held via video conference. The meeting was chaired by Yasser Humaidan, Bahrain’s Minister of Electricity and Water Affairs and the current chair of the committee, with participation from committee members.

Al-Budaiwi added that the move to strengthen the GCC power interconnection system and the study of the feasibility of establishing a water interconnection project among GCC states reflect the shared vision of the GCC leaders to build an integrated, more prepared, and efficient Gulf system capable of facing regional changes and developments. This aims to ensure the continuity of vital services and enhance the common interests of GCC states and their peoples.

He emphasized that this meeting follows up on Gulf 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, regarding the enhancement of cooperation and integration in strategic sectors, foremost among which are electricity and water, considered fundamental pillars of the developmental and economic security of GCC states.

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

Al-Budaiwi clarified 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 GCC states, while the second addresses the study on strengthening the GCC power interconnection system, thereby contributing to supporting Gulf integration paths and developing the cooperation system in vital sectors.

He noted that the Secretariat General, in cooperation with member states and relevant authorities, has been working during the past period to follow up on the preparation of technical studies related to these projects. This was achieved through a series of workshops and bilateral meetings with member states and the specialized consulting company, to complete data and technical observations and review study outputs at various stages, leading 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 Secretariat General and the GCC Interconnection Authority, in preparing these studies and following up on their work. He emphasized the importance of building upon the technical and institutional efforts achieved to reach practical recommendations that support moving forward with these vital projects, paving the way for their submission to the GCC Supreme Council.