Riyadh: Governor of Eastern Region Prince Saud bin Naif bin Abdulaziz received staff members of the Gulf Cooperation Council Interconnection Authority (GCCIA) today at the principality headquarters, where he was briefed on the authority's grid interconnection expansion projects among GCC states, as well as initiatives supporting the transition to clean energy and the achievement of carbon neutrality.
According to Saudi Press Agency, during the meeting, Prince Saud affirmed that the interconnection project is entering a broader phase, strengthening opportunities for the exchange and trade of electric power among countries in the region and opening new horizons for linkage with other nations, thereby maximizing benefits and enhancing energy security in the GCC. He praised GCCIA teams for improving grid reliability and readiness while supporting economic development goals across GCC countries.
GCCIA CEO Eng. Ahmed Al-Ebrahim noted that the authority continues to support GCC countries, particularly the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, in the transition to clean energy and the achievement of carbon neutrality, adding that renewable energy capacity across member states is expected to exceed 120 gigawatts by 2030 and reach around 180 gigawatts by 2040.
He pointed out that the authority has helped integrate these capacities by managing production fluctuations, enabling the marketing of surplus electricity among member states, and reducing the need for additional generation reserves. This has contributed to lowering carbon emissions by nearly seven million tons of CO2 in recent years.
Al-Ebrahim also highlighted the broad economic and social impact of the interconnection project, noting that GCCIA has launched a new phase of strategic expansion from Eastern Region. This includes the project to expand interconnection with Kuwait through new transmission lines and the Al-Wafra station, which became fully operational in the third quarter of this year at a cost of $260 million and serves as the gateway for future expansion to the north.