(MENAFN- Khaleej Times) Abu Dhabi's demand for electric power will grow slightly this year against an actual growth of nine per cent recorded last year, on economic diversification, Abdulla Saif Al Nuaimi, the director general of Abu Dhabi Water and Electricity Authority (Adwea) said.
Speaking to reporters, after inaugurating the sixth edition of the Power and Water Middle East exhibition in the capital, the director general said on an average the demand for electricity has grown nine per cent in the emirate in the recent years. This year, he expected "a slight growth." On the power supply to electricity-deficient northern emirates, the director general said that the authority is currently exporting 2,094MW of electricity in line with an agreement.
Adwea exported 1,389MW of electricity to Fewa in 2012 against 1,198MW in the previous year, while there was a slight increase to Sewa to 715MW in 2012 against 707MW a year ago. Preparations were on for the expansion to the Mirfa power plant, which Adwea DG said was expected to be built by the second quarter of 2016 to generate 1600MW of electricity and 52.5 million imperial gallons of water.
The construction work on the Shuwaihat power plant or S3 is in full swing and is expected to be completed by the first quarter next year to add 1,647MW of electric power to the system. Earlier, this year, he said that the UAE's first solar power plant Shams-1 commissioned in Madina Zayed was uplinked with the Abu Dhabi power grid. Earlier, the director general inaugurated the exhibition and conference, which is taking place in partnership with the authority. The event has attracted power sector players from the region as the Middle East and North Africa countries aim to boost the regional power sector by increasing investments and looking out for alternative sources of power.
According to a recent report by the Kuwait Financial Centre 'Markaz,' power demand in Mena countries is expected to grow at a rate of seven per cent over the next 10 years, with an estimated $283 billion to be invested within the region's power sector between 2014 and 2018.
The Energy Guidebook for industries in GCC, published by Doha based Gulf Organisation for Industrial Consulting, said that GCC states are projected to invest more than $300 billion in some 20 energy projects by 2020, which will generate eight gigawatts of additional power.
Around 100 exhibitors have displayed their products to capitalise on the rapid rise of power investments across the region. Meanwhile, industry leaders met at a one-day forum to discuss opportunities and key challenges facing the industry. Nick Carter, the director general of the regulatory supervision bureau explained the benefits of installing the smart meters, after a pilot project launched recently showed it can reduce the peak load substantially.
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