GCC countries to interconnect electricity with Iraq

GCC countries to interconnect electricity with Iraq

The Gulf Electricity Interconnection Authority (GEA) has announced the implementation of an electricity interconnection project between the city of Arar in northern Saudi Arabia and the Yusufiya region north of Baghdad, Iraq, with an initial grid capacity of 1,000 MW. The project aims to meet part of southern Iraq’s electricity needs, and in the first phase will receive approximately 500 MW of electricity from the GCC countries through the Gulf Electricity Interconnection Network. The construction period is approximately 24 months and is expected to be completed and operational by the end of next year.

The Gulf Power Interconnection project has so far saved the GCC countries approximately US$3 billion in operation. The Gulf Electricity Interconnection Authority and the Ministries of Energy of the GCC countries have created an energy exchange platform since 2016 to establish a common Arab electricity market with Iraq, Jordan and Egypt, with the next step planned to connect the grid with Jordan and Egypt and eventually to Europe. The Gulf Electricity Interconnection Authority plans to invest around $1.5 billion in the Gulf grid over the next five years to expand electricity interconnections with Kuwait, the UAE and Oman.