EWA plans to meet growing demand

The Electricity and Water Authority (EWA) today outlined measures undertaken to meet the growing demand on electricity and water. It cited particularly the inauguration of Bahrain\'s largest independent power generation and water desalination plant owned by Al-Dur Power and Water Company (Al Dur). The plant, which began commercial operations in February 2012, has a capacity of 1,234 MW of power and 218,000 meters cubed per day of the highest quality water in the GCC today. With the opening of this milestone, Bahrain’s overall production of electricity soared to over 4000 Megawatt. In a statement issued today, the EWA said that it had completed maintenance work at all 220 and 66 Kilovolt-stations to meet the soaring demand on power during scorching summer heat. Three 220 Kilovolt-stations and two 66-Kilovolt plants had already been opened in a package costing an overall BD 47.7 million. The EWA announced plans to open three more 220-Kilovolt stations and 66-Kilovolt plants during this summer, in a project costing over BD91 million. The statement also pointed out efforts to upgrade the low and high-voltage power grid, undertaking annual routine maintenance work ahead of scorching summer heat in a bid to avert any potential power cuts. “The EWA allocated BD30 million to upgrade the power grid and avert potential black-outs”, the statement said, blaming most cuts on unlicensed excessive loading.