Introduction:
There are multiple advantages to be gained from interconnecting
the electric power grids of several countries. The main benefit comes from deferring,
or avoiding altogether, the construction of new power plants. This can be achieved
by sharing power across interconnected grids without impacting their security and
reliability. The interconnection also reduces the need for standby capacity to meet
fluctuations in demand, which in turn reduces operating cost. It enables new generating
plants to be constructed in the most economically attractive sites, typically close
to the sources of inexpensive fuel. A further benefit is the lowering of the overall
level of environmental pollution in the region.
Recognizing these benefits, the Arab countries established interconnection
links between their respective electricity power grids, as far back as 1952. During
that year, a tie line was erected between Algeria and Tunisia to alleviate cross
border short term power shortages, and, in 1979, another tie line was established
to link Morocco and Algeria for similar reasons. Despite suffering problems which
limited the success of these projects, the experience and insight gained contributed
to the spawning of other projects on a much larger scale that now encompasses the
whole region.
Current Status of The Arab Electricity Grids Interconnection
Projects:
These projects include the Eight Country Interconnection Project,
the Maghreb Countries Interconnection Project and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC)
Power Grid Interconnection Project. They are briefly described below:
The Eight Country Interconnection Project (named EIJLLPST):
This project involves interconnecting the electrical grids of Egypt, Iraq, Jordan,
Libya, Lebanon, Palestine, Syria, and Turkey. It started as a five-country interconnection
project that included Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Syria, and Turkey, became a six-country
project when Lebanon joined in, and later became an eight-country project when Libya
and Palestine joined in.
The Egypt-Libya, 220kV link, rated at 170MW, became operational
in 2008. The same year also witnessed the operation of the Egypt-Jordan link, rated
at 300MW, using 500kV on the Egyptian side and 400kV on the Jordanian side. During
2001, the Syrian and Jordanian networks were interconnected on 400kV using a line
rated at 300MW. The Syrian grid was then connected to the Lebanese grid, also on
400kV, during 2009, and the Palestinian grid was later connected to both the Egyptian
and Jordanian grids through 66 kV transmission lines having limited capacity. The
already completed interconnection between the Syrian and Turkish grids has not been
energized due to the political situation in the region.
The Iraqi grid is currently linked with the Syrian and Turkish
grids on 220 kV. Interconnecting the Iraqi grid with the Syrian and Turkish grids,
on 400 kV, will be accomplished at a later date. There are ongoing efforts to connect
the Iraqi grid with the Kuwaiti and Jordanian grids, also on 400 kV.
Figure (1)
Eight Country Grid Interconnection
The Maghreb Countries Interconnection Project:
This project involves connecting the Libyan grid to the Tunisian grid, using 220kV
transmission lines, interconnecting the Tunisian grid with the Algerian grid, on
400kV, and interconnecting the Algerian grid to the Moroccan grid, using the same
voltage.
All works and final tests to interconnect the electric grids
of Libya and Tunisia were concluded in 2005. However, as a result of electrical
issues related to oscillations in the combined network, the interconnection lines
were re-opened in order to enable both countries to conduct further investigations.
The two countries, together with the UCTE, are working on resolving this problem.
One of the proposed solutions is to convert the Libya-Tunisia interconnection to
direct current (d.c.) instead of alternating current (a.c.).
The Tunisia-Algeria interconnection, on 400kV, was energized
in 2012, but still operates on 220 kV due to technical reasons. In addition to the
existing 220kV interconnection between Algeria and Morocco, the two countries also
completed a project to interconnect their grids using a 400kV network, rated at
900MW. This project was put in service in 2009.
Furthermore, Morocco is currently connected to Spain through
two submarine cables, each rated at 700 MW. Up to the year 2016, these cables were
mostly used to export energy from Spain to Morocco to satisfy part of the demand
on the Moroccan grid and stabilize its network. However, in recent years, and as
a result of Morocco’s heavy investment in renewable energy power plants (wind and
solar), that have a low generation cost, the two cables are now mostly used to export
energy from the Moroccan grid to the Spanish grid. Due to the heavy loading of the
two cables, efforts are also underway to construct a third cable, thus raising the
capacity of the interconnection to 2100 MW.
Figure (2)
The Maghreb Countries Interconnection
The GCC Power Grid Interconnection Project:
This project was implemented over three phases, as follows: Phase 1, which formed
the northern section, linked the grids of Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Qatar,
and was completed in early 2009. Phase 2, which formed the southern section, linked
the grids of the UAE and Oman. It was completed in 2012. Finally, in Phase 3, the
northern and southern sections of the project were linked together. Phase 3 was
completed in mid-2014 and the project has been operational since then.
Figure (3)
Gulf Cooperation (GCC) Power Grid Interconnection
The Arab Fund's Participation in Financing
Inter-Arab Interconnection Projects:
Over the past twenty years, the total investment by the Arab
countries in Inter- Arab Interconnection Projects has reached two billion US dollars;
including US$ 556 million for the Eight Country Interconnection Project, US$ 1100
million for the GCC Power Grid Interconnection Project, US$ 169 million for the
Maghreb Countries’ Interconnection Project and US$ 86 million for the interconnection
of the two electricity grids in Yemen.
Cognizant of the role it should play in achieving Arab integration,
the Arab Fund provided 12 grants, totaling around $ 6 million, to finance various
feasibility studies for electrical interconnection projects among the Arab countries.
These studies led to the identification and construction of 5 interconnection projects,
whose total cost was about $ 616 million. Around 72% of that cost was covered through
9 loans provided by the Arab Fund. The Arab Fund also provided several loans amounting
to $ 556 million to cover part of the cost of projects to connect the Egyptian and
Saudi grids, the Syrian and Turkish grids, the Moroccan and Spanish grids, and the
connection of the Mauritanian grid to the electrical grids in Mali and Senegal.
Additionally, the Arab Fund provided 6 grants, totaling around 6 million, to finance
studies aimed at improving the performance and utilization of the interconnected
networks.
Figure (4) shows the construction of the Arab Fund towards the
various Arab electrical interconnection projects that have entered into service,
while Figure (5) shows its contribution towards the financing of the Egypt – Saudi
interconnection grid. The Arab Fund also contributed US$ 86 million to finance projects
aimed at strengthening the national grids in Syria, Morocco and Yemen, prior to
interconnecting them to their neighboring country grids.
Figure (4)
The Arab Fund’s Loan Contributions to the Completed Inter-Arab Electrical Interconnection
Projects
Figure (5)
The Arab Fund’s Loan Contributions to the Egypt – Saudi Interconnection Project
Additionally, the loans provided by the Arab Fund, for interconnection
projects, were not limited to projects between two, or more, Arab countries, as
the Arab Fund also contributed to the financing of three electrical interconnection
projects that included non-Arab countries (Turkey, Spain, Mali and Senegal) by covering
most of the cost of the portion of the project in the concerned Arab country . Below
table shows these projects and the contribution of the Arab Fund to each.
Other Interconnection Projects
|
Electrical Interconnection (Syria - Turkey)
|
86
|
96
|
|
Electrical Interconnection (Morocco - Spain)
|
80
|
206
|
|
Electrical Interconnection (Mauritania – Senegal – Mali)
|
240
|
900
|
|
Total
|
406
|
1,202
|