Federal study tackles blackouts caused by power grid failures

ABU DHABI // The Federal Government is to assess and improve the provision of electricity to areas dogged by power shortages, officials said yesterday. The Federal Electricity and Water Authority (FEWA) will investigate the level of available electricity supplies to try to overcome blackouts and power shortages that are threatening the economic growth of the northern emirates. "It aims at improving the electricity grid and avoiding blackouts," FEWA said in a statement.

Ajman, Umm al Qaiwain and Fujairah all suffer from a lack of power, but the problem appears most acute in Ras al Khaimah. Entire streets in RAK city have new buildings without power, The National reported earlier this year. Officials at Al Safir Mall said yesterday they had to move their staff to other emirates because the mall had no electricity. The mall was completed 18 months ago and staff were brought in recently in the hope that electricity would be supplied.

FEWA has allocated Dh9 million (US$2.4m) for the assessment study, which is expected be completed by the first quarter of next year. "This is one of the most important scientific studies that is aimed at understanding the current capacity of the grid," said Mohammed Saleh, the acting director of FEWA. It would focus on assessing the conditions of the power networks in RAK and Ajman, he said. The study would lay down a set of measures to help officials estimate growth in power demand.

Some of the northern emirates are taking steps to prevent the situation from worsening. Moves include Ajman's planned $2 billion coal-powered plant station, the first of its type in the Gulf. The plant is expected to be operational by 2012. Global Insight, an international economic and financial analysis provider, estimates power consumption in the Gulf will rise 50 per cent in the next five years. However, power generation is projected to increase by only 30 per cent.

Officials from Abu Dhabi Water and Electricity Authority (ADWEA) and Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) say the two emirates are able to meet future energy demand by building new power plants. "Adnoc is committed to supply our demands regardless," said Abdullah al Nuaimi, the director of privatisation of ADWEA. In its nuclear programme's white paper, the Government said oil and coal were viable sources to cover the nation's power needs.

[e-mail] * Additional reporting by Yasin Kakande