Developing electricity and desalination stations in Bahrain

The Bahraini Minister of Water and Electricity, Abdalla Jumaa, was quoted as saying Bahrain will keep the prices of electricity from rising even amid the privatization plan, as the government is keen on preventing such a price increase.

He added that the government will continue to support the electricity sector whatever the circumstances might be. He said the government intends to buy electricity from the private sector and resell it to consumers at a subsidized rate.

Bahrain intends to develop and expand electricity and desalination stations in order to meet the expected increase in its needs by the end of the century. The demand for desalinated water is expected to increase by 90%.

Bahrain estimated its needed investments in the fields of water and electricity at $240 million per year till the year 2005.

The Bahraini Minister said the private sector was called upon to participate in financing the second and third phases of this project, which will be completed by the years 2002 and 2005 respectively.