Power project test at Bahrain jetty
Manama, March 26, 2014
A jetty in Budaiya has been selected for an ambitious project to generate electricity through water current.
Municipalities and Urban Planning Affairs Minister Dr Juma Al Ka'abi told MPs a private electricity firm has been leasing space at the jetty for a one-year trial, said a report in the Gulf Daily News (GDN), our sister publication.
"We have no plans to seize space from Budaiya fishermen and it has been selected for a test project by an electricity firm whose results will determine whether we want the technology or not," he said.
"We are working with the Works Ministry to get more jetties built and carry out maintenance to existing ones and we have no plans to take any away from fishermen."
He was responding to complaints from fishermen, who claim the area of their jetty has been reduced.
Dr Al Ka'abi also reassured MPs that his ministry was working on collecting BD43 million ($113.4 million) in outstanding municipal fees from 2010.
"I know that it means we have to collect around BD18 million per year, we are working very hard to do so, and with our current plans I believe we will be successful considering that we collected BD6 million over the last year," he said.
Meanwhile, Housing Minister Bassem Al Hamer said the government will not purchase private plots in East Riffa for a government housing project because it costs BD24 million.
"There are plans for the project, but we can't buy plots this year or the next, as we have to arrange payments and reach deals," he said.
He said his ministry had different approaches to solve pending housing applications, which have reached 60,000.
"We have five new towns alongside existing projects in blocks wherever space is available and we are working according to a strategy that focuses on speed and efficiency and support from the private sector." - TradeArabia News Service
