Bahrain is to become the 93rd full member of the World Energy Council (WEC), one of the world's most influential bodies dealing with energy, said a senior government minister.

Minister of State for Electricity and Water Affairs Dr Abdulhussain Mirza said the WEC had proposed to Bahrain it should join one of the world's most influential bodies dealing with energy during the WEC meeting in New Delhi, India last month.

"We had meetings with senior WEC officials including secretary general Christoph Frei and vice-president in charge of Gulf states and the Middle East Taha Zatari, among others, who expressed a keen desire for Bahrain to join up," Dr Mirza said.

"The proposal had been submitted to the Cabinet for approval which has now given the go-ahead," he told the Gulf Daily News, our sister publication.

"After Bahrain formally joins up, several high-profile events related to the energy field will come to the country and will enable professionals in Bahrain to learn from experience of international experts."

He said in the future, Bahrain could also host the regional headquarters of the WEC.

"Bahrain is known all over the world for the rapid strides it has made in the field of energy and this new step will further cement that perception."

Dr Mirza said WEC is an impartial network of leaders and practitioners promoting an affordable, stable and environmentally sensitive energy system for the greatest benefit of all.

Formed in 1923, WEC is the UN-accredited global energy body, representing the entire energy spectrum, with more than 3,000 member organisations located in over 90 countries and drawn from governments, private and state corporations, academia, NGOs and energy-related stakeholders.

"The WEC informs global, regional and national energy strategies by hosting high-level events, publishing authoritative studies, and working through its extensive member network to facilitate the world's energy policy dialogue."

During the meeting, Dr Mirza also met several ministers involved in the energy sector and renewable energies and heads of major companies interested in the development of the electricity sector, including funding and interested industrial and sector regulation.

"We discussed the possibility and opportunities for co-operation with companies interested in the development of modern systems for renewable energies," he said.

Dr Mirza spoke about the challenges faced by the electricity sector in Bahrain and the government efforts to cope with the development of the electricity and water networks.-TradeArabia News Service