MANAMA: Electricity and Water Authority (EWA) on Monday unveiled an ambitious $5billion water and power infrastructure development plan for 2015-2019, the Minister revealed.
Addressing during the post weekly cabinet meeting on Monday Minister of Energy, Dr. Abdul Hussain bin Ali Mirza, joined Information Affairs Minister, Isa Abdulrahman Al Hammadi, and highlighted the challenges and salient features of future development plans.
Dr Mirza said that through its ambitious plan, EWA seeks to develop the electricity and water infrastructure during the coming five years (2015-2019), to keep pace with urban expansion in the Kingdom and economic and development progress by implementing a number of developmental projects at a total cost of $3.6billion to $4billion or nearly BD 1.3billion to BD1.5billion.
The key developments include the upgrading of the main backbone transmission network to 400 Kv, one of the most important strategic projects of the EWA, is to construct a new backbone transmission network at a voltage of 400 Kv.
“The envisaged network shall include the construction of three main transmission substations at the voltage of 400 Kv in Hidd, Umm Al Hassam and Riffa. These substations will be connected in a mesh network and into the existing 220 Kv transmission network in order to provide a better interface with GCC interconnection grid.
“This project will raise the capability and reliability of the power network in Bahrain and will reduce the issues of the high short circuit levels in the various parts of the network to a safe level, and thus ensure safe operation of equipment and higher operational flexibility, in addition to strengthening the option of commercial power trade exchange of electricity with other GCC countries.
“The total cost of this project is estimated at nearly $740 million, or about BD280 million. Implementation will last up to 2017. This will be the first project to be financed by the GCC development Support Program and financed by Kuwait. The tender documents of the project have already been obtained and are being evaluated, having obtained all approval required from the Tender Board, the Ministry of Finance and the financers.
“The EWA is continuing the implementation of a project of upgrading the 11Kv high voltage network in the various Governorates with the aim of further minimizing power interruptions. The estimated cost of these projects is $265 million, or BD100 million.
“The project is under construction until the end of 2016.
As for the development of the water networks, the EWA is also in the process of implementing a number of developmental projects during the next stage, at an estimated cost of $182million.
“The main Water Pumping Station in Hidd expansion of the current station and construction of additional ground storage tanks and improvement of the pumps to 50 million gallons. The estimated cost is $75 million.
“Expansion of the current stations and construction of additional ground storage tanks and improvement of the pumps to 45 million gallons and the estimated cost is $ 75 million.
“Construction of 17-kilometer Ductile Iron water pipelines, at an estimated cost of $ 12 million. Construction of water pipelines in the central governorate construction of 22-kilometer ductile iron water pipelines, at an estimated cost of $20 million.”