Iraq and Saudi Arabia agree to expand joint electrical interconnection points

INA-  baghdad

Electricity Minister Ziad Ali Fadel agreed with Saudi Energy Minister Abdulaziz bin Salman on Wednesday to expand the points of joint electrical interconnection.
 
The official spokesman of the Ministry of Electricity, Ahmed Musa, said in a statement, received by the Iraqi News Agency (INA), "Minister of Electricity Ziad Ali Fadel, made an official visit to Riyadh at the head of a ministerial delegation, accompanied by the Prime Minister's Advisor for Energy Affairs Imad Al-Alaq, and the Iraqi ambassador to Saudi Arabia, and met with Saudi Energy Minister Abdulaziz bin Salman," noting that "during the meeting, it was agreed to start the electrical interconnection and expand the link point, which is the Arar station, and the establishment of the transmission line, and the preparation of both parties to complete ACWA Power's procedures."
 
The Minister of Electricity said during the meeting, according to the statement, that "there is great interest paid by Prime Minister Mohamed Shia Al-Sudani, to strengthen partnerships with the Kingdom," pointing to "the serious orientation of the government and the ministry to work to achieve qualitative gains to strengthen the energy file."
 
The minister touched on three important axes, namely the agendas of the visit:
 
The first is the initiation and launch of the project (Iraqi-Saudi electrical interconnection), which is an important reason for the exchange of energy benefit.
 
The second / the completion of the partnership project with the company (ACWA Power) to install a solar power plant by 1000 megawatts.
 
And the third / benefit from their successful experience by installing meters and counting energy losses.
 
He pointed out that "it was agreed to form a joint working group to be concerned with the development of unified commonalities."
He expressed his thanks for "the warm reception and the great support he felt from the Saudi Minister of Energy," stressing that "the merits of the meeting and its distinguished outputs will be conveyed to the President of the Republic and the Cabinet."
 
Saudi Energy Minister Abdulaziz bin Salman pointed out that "this visit has great significance and we find it a good and fruitful opportunity to expand the horizons of cooperation and joint work between the two countries," noting that "His Majesty the King and the Crown Prince recommend twinning the Kingdom's projects with Baghdad in the energy sector."
 
He added that "we genuinely support the development of your economic files, and carefully monitor your renaissance and your confident measures to work on diversifying energy sources, and exploiting gas fields."