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

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

10

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

12

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 14

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

Integration of all substation systems is also achieved through the implementation of substation automation through the introduction of the PACiS Integrated Control System (ICS) with bidirectional communication to EMS SCADA

The ICC is connected to all MSs NCCs through Inter-Control Center Communications Protocol (ICCP/TASE.2) that provides data exchange over wide area networks (WANs) between control centers on real time basis

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EMS and DCS Systems

Redundant PACiS

Gateways

EMS SCADA

IEC104

ALSTOM

MiCOM C264 I/O P633 Transformer Diff

Protection

Redundant Ring

SBUS IEC61850

Utility SCADA

System

ICP Link

Existing

Substation

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.

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

2010-2020

Initiating a GCC Power Market

2010-2020

Beyond the GCC Power Market 20120-2025

Beyond the GCC Power Market 20120-2025

Future Prospects Future Prospects

EJLIST

UCTE

East

Arab Maghreb GCC

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Future Prospects

Thank you