Is the Time Ripe for Private Investment in Interconnections in the MENA Region?

  • Focus Area -
  • Type Instant Insight
  • Date 2 September 2019
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Abstract

Efforts to integrate power systems and markets in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries and the wider Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region are gaining momentum. With rapidly growing regional electricity demand, the development of an integrated electricity market has the potential to offer a multitude of benefits to participating countries. This will require sufficient interconnection capacity to efficiently utilize surplus power while taking advantage of price and demand diversity in participating countries. Developing cross-border interconnections entails significant investment, and financing this investment has often been challenging. The Gulf Cooperation Council Interconnection Authority (GCCIA), formed in 2001 to link the power systems of the GCC countries, has successfully built interconnections with ~3,850 megawatts (MW) of aggregate capacity (Figure 1). However, the existing capacity is highly underutilized for various reasons.  

Authors

Shahid Hasan

Shahid Hasan

Principal Fellow- Utilities & Renewables Prior to joining KAPSARC, Shahid was an associate director at TERI, an independent research institution working in the areas of…

Prior to joining KAPSARC, Shahid was an associate director at TERI, an independent research institution working in the areas of energy, environment and sustainable development. As part of his managerial responsibilities, he was responsible for defining, providing direction, implementing research agenda. he has immensely enjoyed working in a team, guiding and mentoring fellow colleagues. As an energy specialist with research and consulting experience, Shahid has worked on various aspects of electricity market reforms covering a range of issues around energy-economics, energy-policy/regulation, energy-markets, energy-sustainability, pricing, DSM especially related to the electricity industry in India and abroad. He has interacted widely with policymakers, regulators, utilities (public and private), multi-lateral & bi-lateral organizations, and international research institutions. He also contributed to a number of government reports aimed to facilitate transition of the energy sector. Representation as energy sector specialist in a number of national and international expert groups/task forces etc.

Expertise

  • Energy policies/regulations
  • Markets and transitions

Publications See all Shahid Hasan’s publications

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