The Gulf Cooperation Council Interconnection Authority (GCCIA) and the Ministry of Electricity of the Republic of Iraq have discussed the final preparations for launching the electricity interconnection project between the two entities. The discussions took place during a recent meeting in the Kingdom of Bahrain.

The project is designed to enable the export of electric power from GCC countries to Iraq by linking southern Iraq to the Gulf electricity grid, thereby contributing to the stability of regional electrical networks.

The electricity interconnection with Iraq is expected to become operational in the first half of 2026.

Representatives from both the GCCIA and the Iraqi ministry attended the meeting, where they assessed the operational readiness of the project as it nears implementation.

During the meeting, both sides reviewed the operational mechanisms for integrating the electricity interconnection project with the southern Iraq network and explored potential avenues for exporting electric power to Iraq, as part of broader efforts to strengthen bilateral cooperation in the energy sector.

Engineer Ahmed Al-Ebrahim, Chief Executive Officer of the GCCIA, said connecting the Gulf electricity market with Iraq will create new opportunities for regional electricity interconnection and power trade, greatly supporting the GCC countries' objectives to establish a competitive electricity market.

They also examined the operational contracts set to be signed ahead of the project’s official expansion launch. 

The meeting featured visual presentations on the structure of each party’s electrical network and initial discussions on frameworks for power purchase agreements, it added.

This comes close on the heels of GCCIA's strategic deal with the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) for amendment to their existing framework agreement, thus marking a significant step that reflects the GCC countries’ commitment to developing a more efficient and reliable electrical infrastructure.

The new amendment broadens the scope of collaboration by introducing a key area focused on operational flexibility practices, ensuring higher economic and reliability benefits for the GCC member states.

In September, GCCIA had signed a $500 million interim financing agreement with Sohar International Bank to support the implementation of a direct electricity interconnection project linking the Authority’s grid with that of the Sultanate of Oman.

It aims to enhance regional energy security and increase opportunities for electricity trade and exchange among the GCC member states, in a strategic step that reflects the depth of Gulf integration.

The project scope includes the construction of a 400-kilovolt double-circuit transmission line linking the Al Sila station, owned by the GCCIA in the UAE with the Ibri station, to be established by the Authority in Oman. The total length of the line will be 530km.-TradeArabia News Service