Kuwait/Abu Dhabi: Water and electricity officials from Gulf Cooperation Council states will meet in Kuwait on Tuesday to discuss the linkage project, said an official source.
The meeting is being organised by the GCC’s Electricity Cooperation Committee. The source said the committee will explore the possibility of implementing the joint legal and legislative rules to strengthen rationalising the consumption of water and electricity, in addition to discussing subscribers’ services in the Gulf.
The average daily consumption of water per individual in the Gulf states varies between 300 and 750 litres daily, which is the highest in the world. This is due to the absence of “demand management”, government focus on increasing water supply through building desalination plants, and increasing dependence on groundwater. Gulf States suffer from low public awareness about the value of water resources.
GCC countries have the highest water desalination capacity in the world, and the productivity of their plants is more than 50 per cent of total world production.
The source, quoted by regional papers, went on to explain that the region’s states are among the most-affected countries with regard to water, with individual annual consumption of renewable fresh water resources at about 150 cubic metres. The source said the committee is interested in drafting a study about rationalising technologies in electricity and water.
The list will be distributed to member countries and updated if the need arises. The committee will organise and participate in conferences and seminars, it will also take part in international and Gulf workshops focusing on rationalisation of electricity and water consumption.
The committee will celebrate International Water Day on March 22nd to strengthen the culture of rationalising consumption. It aims to activate the role of the public through drawing attention to the committee’s website, updating data and developing internal rules and regulations for subscriber services.
UAE Energy Minister Suhail Al Mazroui said earlier that Gulf states are studying suggestions about water linkages between GCC countries.
He said the water issue is one of the biggest challenges facing Gulf countries, and that the UAE is dealing seriously with this challenge by conducting rationalisation campaigns, purifying used water, building dams, and keeping water inside the ground to limit dependence on desalinated seawater.
