Mideast Gulf Countries Mull Coal,Nuclear In Energy Mix

摘要

Saudi Arabia,Bahrain,Kuwait,Oman,Qatar and the UAE are all facing double-digit annual electricity growth rates and all of these Mideast Gulf economies except gas-rich Qatar face severe electricity shortfalls,with rolling blackouts gaining in frequency and magnitude.This growing thirst for power is leading the region to push headlong into gas-fired independent power and water desalination(IPWP)projects and,given gas shortages,to diversify into nuclear,renewables and-for the first time-coal(WGI Mar.21'07,p7).These neighboring states are also finally pushing ahead with a long-planned super-grid to link all six of their high-voltage electricity systems.