Fewa to achieve 150mw surplus shortly

Federal Electricity and Water Authority (Fewa) is set to achieve 150 megawatts surplus in power generation following the recent completion of projects worth Dh630 million and installation of two 100 megawatt turbines in Ras Al Khaimah and Fujairah.

Yahya Abdul Karim, assistant general manager, technical affairs, Fewa, said once these turbines are operational, Fewa generation capacity will go up to 1,200mw. The authority will spend about Dh220 million on these turbines.

The investment is part of the 10-year plan chalked out by Fewa in 2000. "The plan is moving ahead as scheduled and every year we take stock of the progress," Yahya said on the sidelines of a function to announce details of the Middle East Electricity show to be held from January 19 to 21 at Dubai International Exhibition Centre.

It was also announced that the Middle East Electricity Ministers' meet will be an annual event at the show, which will feature 600 exhibitors from 34 countries.

There will be pavilions from Germany, UK, Switzerland, Italy, France, Turkey, Iran, Spain, and for the first time, Taiwan. It is sponsored by Novar and Lucy Switchgear and supported by the UAE Ministry of Electricity and Water and Fewa.

The conference will bring toge-ther government decision-makers, leading regional and international power companies and industry advisers to discuss how new strategies and technologies can meet rapidly expanding energy needs, said Sarah Woodbridge, exhibitions director for organiser IIR's power division.

During the conference, Humaid bin Nasir Al Owais, UAE Minister of Water and Electricity, will chair a 90-minute round-table discussion on the region's power needs, currently growing at 3-4 per cent annually, twice the global average.

Other critical issues to be addressed include restructuring and privatisation, the role of independent power producers, national and regional grids, financing of power projects, tariffs, energy conservation and government's role in the development of the Middle East power industry.