Bahrain’s HRH Prime Minister Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa launched a BD280-million ($738 million) power grid development project yesterday (May 11), said a report.

The project, which is aimed at reducing short circuits and ensuring transfer of electricity from the production plants to load centres across the kingdom, will be completed by 2017-end, reported the BNA.

The scope of work includes the building of three electricity transmission lines in Hidd, Um Al-Hassam and Riffa areas of the kingdom and linking them.

The project consists of four work packages and is being implemented by the German company Siemens. Prysmian Group, from Italy, and another company from Japan are supplying the transmission lines. The Korean company, Hyundai, is supplying the transformers.

Speaking at the inaugural ceremony, HRH affirmed that the kingdom had succeeded in dealing flexibly with the challenges created by the decline in oil prices.

Thanks to the government's determination and well-thought plans, the development march has continued unabated to fulfil the citizens' needs, said the Premier.

"We will succeed in our future development march, as we have done so far thanks to the support of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa to the government and its work," he said, noting that mega projects have become a distinctive feature of HM the King's prosperous era.

HRH Premier pointed out the electricity transmission line is within a series of projects implemented by the government for the aim of putting in place the requirements of the investments and industrial projects and keeping pace with the needs of citizens and residents in this regard.

He asserted that the infrastructure projects in all sectors, including energy, top the government's agenda, given their role in enhancing Bahrain's ability to reach advanced levels of sustainable economic growth and upgrade the national economy's ability to attract more investment projects.

In his address, Energy Minister Dr Abdul Hussain bin Ali Mirza expressed pride in HRH the Prime Minister's patronage of the inauguration of the project.

"Despite the rapidly unfolding economic challenges, the kingdom has succeeded in achieving tangible progress in all service and production sectors thanks to sound vision of HM King Hamad, HRH Prime Minister Prince Khalifa and His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince, Deputy Supreme Commander and First Deputy Premier," he added.