MANAMA, 12 November 2004 — Bahrain is to have four new power sub-stations in time to meet the expected peak demand of 1,840MW of electricity next summer. The Gulf nation witnessed a major blackout last August where people were left without electricity from early morning to about 10 p.m.

The government is expected to spend more than 289 Bahraini dinars on setting up power stations and maintaining existing ones to meet the increasing demand of electricity.

“Besides the new sub-stations, a BD189 million private power station is expected to be on line by 2006,” Ministry of Electricity and Water Undersecretary Dr. Abdulmajeed Al-Awadhi, told Arab News.

“The four sub-stations are coming up in Manama Central Market, Hamad Town, Alba and Al-Jasra while two more, at Mahooz and Busaiteen, will be ready in 2006,” he said.

Al-Awadhi said plans for power needs were being drawn up to 2010, based on a three percent annual population growth.

“Next year we expect the maximum demand to reach 1,840MW and in 2010 it is expected to be 2,340MW,” he said.

“We don’t need standby power plants in case of emergency. It would cost the country a lot of money and it is not needed.”

Al-Awadhi said that BD100 million will be spent on maintaining and servicing the existing Hidd power and water plant’s first and second phases over the next 12 years. Six companies have been pre-qualified for the job. “A comprehensive maintenance and service contract will ensure the smooth functioning of the plant over 12 years.”

“A contractor will be selected by the end of the year for the purpose,” Al-Awadhi said.

“Major testing of a 270MW steam turbine has also been completed,” he said.

“The reliability test run of this turbine was held for one month in June, and the combined cycle production started in July.”

“This ensured that there was enough power to meet the summer demand,” he said.

The Hidd power plant’s first phase included two gas turbines with a total capacity of about 280MW. The third phase of the project is a 60 million-gallons-a-day water plant for which tenders would be floated shortly.