Manama, March 17 (BNA)– Energy Minister Dr. Abdul Hussain Mirza stressed that the short term volatility of oil prices in the global markets will not affect Bahrain’s future power projects.

He added in press statements that the drop in oil prices is temporary, pointing out that there is no shortage of electricity in Bahrain with a production capacity of 4000 megawatt and a usage of 3152 megawatt plus an extra 600 megawatt which could be obtained from the GCC Power Grid Interconnection Project when needed.

He was speaking as he attended today the inauguration of Bahrain Information Technology Expo at Bahrain International Circuit. He expected the second phase of Al-Dour plant to be operational in 2018 to cater for the rising demand for electrical power. He pointed out that the Electricity and Water Authority had chosen a consultancy firm to conduct a thorough study on electricity demand for the next 20 years.

Concerning the project of replacing and extending the pipeline linking the oilfields in Saudi Arabia to Bahrain’s refinery facility, the minister unveiled a tender (EPC), expecting work on the project to get underway by mid 2015 and be completed in 2018.

The project is expected to raise the number of daily crude oil barrels transported via the 115-km pipeline from 220,000 to 350,000.

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BNA 1736 GMT 2015/03/17