A delegation from the Kuwait Fund for Development conducted a field visit yesterday to the Al-Wafra Power Station, part of the Gulf Electrical Interconnection expansion project. The visit aimed to review the latest developments regarding the station’s inauguration and operation, which is  set to increase the capacity of Kuwait’s electrical grid by 2,500 megawatts.

During the visit, both the Kuwait Fund delegation and members of the Gulf Cooperation Council Interconnection Authority (GCCIA) received a detailed briefing from officials and consultants of the companies overseeing the project’s construction and operation. They discussed technical, logistical, and procedural matters, as well as the challenges the project is facing. Following the briefing, the delegation toured the site to inspect the station and its transmission lines.

Mr. Abdulaziz Al-Sumait, Senior Engineering Specialist in the Operations Department at the Kuwait Fund, stated that the project has reached  90% completion and is expected to be operational by the end of December. He confirmed that progress is in line with the execution plan and schedule agreed upon since the project began in 2023.

Al-Sumait highlighted that the project will link Kuwait’s electrical grid with the GCCIA network through four 400-kilovolt transmission lines. The primary goals are to ensure a continuous and secure energy supply, reduce electricity production costs, facilitate mutual energy support between member states in case of emergencies, and lower the energy reserves required by member countries.

Mr. Ahmed Al-Ibrahim, CEO of the GCCIA, added that the Al-Wafra Power Station is one of the largest in the Authority’s network, with the capacity for over 14 transmission lines. These include four main lines connecting Al-Wafra to the Gulf Interconnection network and four lines linking the station to Kuwait’s grid, contributing to the stability of Kuwait’s power system.

Additionally, the station is positioned to become a key hub, as it will connect with southern Iraq’s electrical grid and, in the future, with neighboring countries, with the potential for further expansion on a global scale.

It is worth noting that the Kuwait Fund has signed two loan agreements with the GCCIA, valued at 70 million Kuwaiti dinars, to finance the enhancement of the Gulf Electrical Interconnection project and to support the connection with southern Iraq’s electrical network.