Bahrain inaugurates Al Dur Power and Water Project

The plant will produce a third of Bahrain's total water. (GETTY IMAGES)

His Majesty King Hamad Bin Isa Al-Khalifa, Bahrain's King, has inaugurated the newly operational power and water project. The US $2.1 billion project has been developed by International Power-GDF Suez an Gulf Investment Corporation (GIC) to meet Bahrain's growing demand for electricity and water. The site, which became operational in February, has a total power output of 1,234 MW and can produce 218,000m3 of water per day. It is the largest such plant in the country today.

The plant's output is equivalent to one third of the country's total power and water capacity, and is expected to allow Bahrain to become an exporter of power during peak periods around the rest of the GCC. The Bahraini Electricity and Water Authority (EWA) will take all of the output under a 25-year power and water purchase agreement.

Minister of Electricity, HE Abdulhussain bin Ali Mirza, said of the plant, "EWA is working hand-in-hand with the private sector in order to support Government efforts to expand the Kingdom's infrastructure. We are confident that the launch of Al Dur and its partnership with EWA will ensure the stable and secure supply of power and water to support ongoing growth and diversification of the economy".

GIC has claimed that the water plant at the site is the first of its size to use Reverse Osmosis technology, which it says will help the plant to operate with maximum efficiency whilst protecting the natural environment.

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