The commissioning of two 100mw power stations, featuring frame-9 gas turbines, in Ras Al Khaimah and Fujairah will be done during the first quarter of 2003, confirmed a senior source with the Federal Electricity and Water Authority (Fewa).

With the coming on board of both units, total generating capacity managed by Fewa - which oversees the requirements of Ras Al Khaimah, Fujairah, Ajman and Umm Al Quwain - will rise to over 1,400mw.

The contracts for both stations - at Al Nakheel in Ras Al Khaimah and New Qidfa in Fujairah - have been awarded to General Electric (GE). The project has a capital outlay of Dh230 million.

"Work has already started and we expect the projects to be ready in the first quarter of 2003. The northern emirates have seen an average 10-15 per cent increase in consumption of electricity, and this rate will continue for the immediate future," said Mohammed Khalil Al Shamsi, director of public relations.

"New capacities will be added as part of our contribution to the UAE's overall power requirements. There are studies being conducted on power and water requirements, and will be implemented in stages. But decisions are yet to be taken on the time table.

"The strategy is to have national level connectivity soon. There are meetings being held every now and then to decide on the time frame for joining in."

Connection to a national grid would allow us to provide uninterrupted coverage.

Sharjah is in the process of integrating its grid with the northern emirates. In the phase following this, the respective grids of the other emirates will be inter-connected.

Set up on May 1, 2000, Fewa had a consumer base of 145,742 by end 2000, of which 46 per cent were industrial and commercial connections and 44 per cent in the residential category.

The load demand on the Fewa network as of 2001 was 929mw, an increase of 6 per cent over 2000's 877mw.

All power stations and transmission/distribution networks are controlled from a central control centre in Umm Al Quwain.

The centre is assisted by a regional control centre at the New Qidfa power station.

Meanwhile, Fewa's installed capacity for water stands at 30 million imperial gallons per day (MIGD).