The concept of electrical interconnection

was raised by the Gulf Cooperation Council

(GCC) in early 80s to ensure security and

stability of their local electrical networks.

Technical and economical studies for

feasibility were conducted during mid 80s

to justify the requirements and benefits.

Brief History

• Initiation – Early 80’s

• Committee formed – 1986

• First Detailed Study – 1990 • Authority established by Royal Decree - 2001

• • Second Study – 2003

• GCC Joint Ministerial committee meeting in Kuwait allowed ‘Go Ahead’ - 2004

Pre-Construction

• Tendering & Adjudication - 2005

• Contracts Awarded for : - Construction (2005) - Org. Develop (2005) - Legal (2006)

• Preliminary ROW Survey (Land) - 2004

• Sea Survey Contract 2004

• Recruitment Process

Construction • Regulation • Systems

Operations

• System Maintenance

• Training

• Market Operations

Operations

Summary of Activities

Established in July 2001 by Royal Decree No. M/21

Owned by the six GCC Countries the authorized share capital is ($US 1,407,000,000) divided into (1,407,000) shares of ($US 1,000)

each share.

The Authority is managed by a (twelve member) Board of Directors; each member country is represented by two members. The Chairmanship is rotated among the member states every three years.

The primary objective of the Authority is to: link up the power grids of the six GCC countries operate and maintain the interconnection become a leading player in the regional electricity market

About GCC Interconnection Authority

GCCIA has redefined its vision, mission and values according to the newly approved Business strategy plan: Mission: Interconnecting Our World Vision: To serve the GCC countries and beyond, by leading the development of an efficient power market, and providing knowledge excellence in power systems integration Values: Safety, Reliability & Sustainability, Collaboration, Innovation, Efficiency, and Co-prosperity & Customer focus

GCCIA Mission, Vision and Values

2014 GCC total installed capacity is about 110 GW with peak demand of 100 GW

Kuwait

Saudi Arabia

Bahrain

Qatar

UAE

Oman

Kuwait

Saudi Arabia

Bahrain Qatar

UAE

Oman

Contribution by country to GCC peak demand

Phase I

Phase II Phase III

BAHRAIN

U.A.E.

EMIRATES NATIONAL GRID

AL FOUHAH 220kV 220kV

AL FADHILI 400kV

JASRA 400kV GHUNAN

400 kV 600MW

SALWA 400kV

SALWA 400kV

QATAR

1200 MW

90km 90km

DOHA SOUTH SUPER 400kV DOHA SOUTH SUPER 400kV

290km 290km

150km 150km

SILAA 400kV 400kV

1400 MW OMAN

OMAN NORTHERN

GRID

MHADAH 220 kV

400MW

52km

112km

100km 100km

KUWAIT AL ZOUR

400kV AL ZOUR

400kV

310km 1200 MW SAUDI ARABIA

SEC - ERB HVDC BACK - TO - BACK

1200MW

Country (Arabic Alphabetical Order)

Percentage%

United Arab Emirates 15.40 Kingdom of Bahrain 9.00

Kingdom of Saudi Arabia 31.60 Sultanate of Oman 5.60

State of Qatar 11.70 State of Kuwait 26.70

TOTAL 100.00

Total

The value of the awarded contracts to the six contractors are as follows:

$251,705,956 $217,451,173 $310,300,246 $343,122,125 $34,546,981

Actual Value

$17,901,497

ABB Areva-Cogelex NCC & MEEDCO

Prysmian-Nexans Areva-Cogelex

Contractor

SNC-Lavalin

Substations HVDC OHL Cable

Control

Lots

Supervision

$1,175,027,978

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Contracts Value for Phase I

Project Timeframe

The Project timeframe for the Phase I Interconnection Project is as follows:

Event Date

Project Commissioning Year 2009

Tendering Period Bid Evaluation

Pre-Award Meetings

April 2005 May-August 2005 September 2005

Contract Award Ceremonies Project Construction Commencement

November 2005 December 2005

Total

The value of the awarded three(3) contracts are as follows:

$ 69,104,000

$ 43,718,000 $ 5,611,105

Actual Value

NCC Transmission Line Group

NCC Substation Group

Areva-Cogelex

Contractor

OHL Substation

Control

Contract No

$118,433,105

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Contracts Value for Phase III

Project Timeframe

The Project timeframe for the Phase III Project is as follows:

Contract Award Completion Date

Salwa (KSA) to Silla (UAE) Transmission Line

August 2008 March 2011

Date

Contract Award Completion Date

July 2009 May 2011

Contract Award November 2009

Silla (UAE) 400 KV Substations Date

Control, Protection and Telecommunication Date

Completion Date May 2011

GCC Ministerial Committee

GCCIA Board of Directors

GCCIA - CEO

General Agreement

PETA

E & W Ministerial Committee Level

General Assembly & Board Level

GCC Utilities Level

Articles / Bylaws

Planning Committee

Operating Committee

Advisory & Regulatory Committee

Transmission & Metering Codes

Member States

Utilities ۱٥

Overall Framework

First Energization : 17 Feb 2009

Synchronized Operations

26th July 2009

Kuwait – Qatar Synchronized 20th July 2009

UAE Synchronized 24th July 2011

Oman and UAE interconnected

end of 2011

Since the 1st day of the operational phase for GCC Interconnection, the security and reliably of the overall interconnected network is highly enhanced

Over 1200 incidents were recoded on the overall interconnected network that range from single generator tripping up to 3000 MW with no impact on system security

GCC Interconnection helped to avoid partial or total blackout during some of the critical incidents for some of the MS grids

• Harmonization of Policies and Procures has been achieved through Operation Committee and Panning Committee

• Both committees meet on quarterly basis where all GCC TSOs representatives meet and discuss the common interest

Policies and Procures Harmonization

Installation of PMU and Power Performance System

• GCCIA installed PMUs network that covers all the GCCIA substations with master station at ICC for accurate analysis of system incidents

• this system avails a real time centralized

collection of PMUs information which enables GCCIA to implement a Wide Area Monitoring (WAM) system to have real time visualization of the status of operation of the power system

Fiber Optic Opportunity

GCCIA engaged in utilizing the OPGW fibre optic cable which is part of the transmission line and land & submarine cable

The cable consists of 96 fibres; in which 24 fibres will be reserved for electrical power uses and the remaining 72 fibres can be used for future applications

Currently negotiating with major telecommunication providers for the leasing and usage of the remaining fibres.

Considering the role of the GCC Interconnection grid for GCC energy sector, GCCIA approached world class entities in order to support GCCIA in the efforts to promote the energy trading between GCC countries

several workshops were conducted to highlight the energy exchange opportunities between GCC countries

Energy Trading

Although the energy trading has commenced between two of GCC counties during summer 2010, the utilization of the interconnection for energy trading is low

Major Challenges that limit the energy trading includes subsidies and Regulatory issues

Energy Trading

Establishing The Interconnection 2005-2011

Initiating a GCC Power Market 2010-2015

Beyond the GCC Power Market 2015-2020

Future Prospects

EJLIST

UCTE

East

Arab Maghreb GCC

24

Future Prospects

Thank you