Gulf states seek unified power, water usage policy

Kuwait/Abu Dhabi, Jan 13 (IANS/WAM) Water and electricity officials from Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries will meet in Kuwait Tuesday to discuss a linkage project, said an official source.

In the meeting, the organising Electricity Cooperation Committee of the GCC will explore the possibility of implementing joint legal and legislative rules to strengthen rationalising the consumption of water and electricity, in addition to discussing subscribers' services in the Gulf.

The GCC comprises Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

The average daily consumption of water per individual in the Gulf countries 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 ground water. Gulf States suffer from low public awareness about the value of water resources.

The GCC countries have the highest water desalination capacity in the world, and the productivity of their plants is more than 50 percent of total world production.

The source, quoted by Arab News, 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.

According to the source, the committee was interested in drafting a study about rationalising technologies in electricity and water.

The committee will celebrate International Water Day March 22 to strengthen the culture of rationalising consumption.

UAE Energy Minister Suhail Al-Mazroui had said earlier that the Gulf countries were studying suggestions about water linkages among themselves.

He said the water issue was one of the biggest challenges facing Gulf countries, and that the UAE was dealing seriously with it by conducting rationalisation campaigns, purifying used water, building dams, and keeping water inside the ground to limit dependence on desalinated sea water.

--IANS/WAM

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