Work on the Emirates Electric National Grid (EENG), which is to connect all power networks of the country, will be completed around next year end. A consultant to oversee the project has been recently appointed.

The project was being carried out according to directions of the UAE Cabinet to link the internal networks of the emirates to one national grid, said Ibrahim Demas, head of consumer services section at Sharjah Electricity and Water Authority (Sewa).

"An agreement has been signed with Electricite De France (EDF) to carry out the design study and consultancy services."

EDF will study the possible linkage points of the new grid, evaluate the status and stability of each network, the financial considerations of the linkage project and technical specifications. It will also study the possibility of connecting EENG with the grids of other GCC states.

According to Sewa publication 'Anwar', the proposed project would meet the power demand at each emirate by exchanging the surplus load between the inter-connected networks.

Demas, who is also a Sewa representative to the technical committee of EENG, said: "Thereafter, the rate of the spare generation capacity may be reduced, which will consequently result in significant savings in costs of operation and maintenance." He said the power stations would share their excess or shortage of power.

It has been agreed to establish an independent authority to manage and control the process of sharing power between the inter-connected power systems.

"The proposed authority may offer the excess power for sale to meet the demand of any emirate."

The inter-connection of the various networks would be made on 440kV and 220kV systems by linking Al Dhaid networks with the control centre and Abu Dhabi and Dubai grids on 400kV inter-connection lines, while Sharjah would be linked with the Federal Electricity and Water Authority (Fewa) system on a 220kV line.