Oman-GCC power link reaches 35% completion

MUSCAT, NOV 3
Construction of Oman’s direct electricity interconnection with the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) grid has reached approximately 35 per cent completion, with investment exceeding RO 268.9 million and the project scheduled to enter service by the end of 2027.
The latest progress was disclosed by Eng Ahmed bin Ali al Ebrahim, Chief Executive Officer of the GCC Interconnection Authority (GCCIA), in information released during the opening of GCC POWER 2026 in Muscat on Monday.
The project involves a 530-kilometre, 400-kilovolt transmission connection between Ibri in Oman and Al Sila in the United Arab Emirates, supported by new substations in Ibri and Baynunah, alongside control and protection systems.
Al Ebrahim said the connection would strengthen electricity supply reliability, improve operational flexibility and create greater opportunities for cross-border electricity trading. It is also expected to reduce fuel and operating costs by allowing participating countries to make more efficient use of their electricity generation capacity.
The latest construction milestone marks progress since the project was formally launched in February, when the authority outlined plans to expand the capacity and flexibility of the interconnected Gulf electricity system.
The development comes as regional power networks face growing demands from renewable energy, electrification and technological change.
Opening the conference, Oman’s Minister of Energy and Minerals, Eng Salim bin Nasser al Aufi, said expanding electricity infrastructure also offered Gulf countries an opportunity to establish regional manufacturing industries rather than rely heavily on imported equipment. He called for coordinated investment and common technical standards to support the production of essential electricity components within the GCC.
Al Aufi pointed to the prospect of more than 200 gigawatts of renewable energy development across the region in the coming years, highlighting the scale of potential demand for cables, storage systems, electrical equipment and engineering services. He urged Gulf countries to identify which components could be manufactured competitively within the region and how quickly the necessary industrial capabilities could be developed.
The minister’s proposals would extend the economic benefits of electricity investment beyond construction and generation into manufacturing, technical services and skilled employment.
Philippe Adam, Secretary General of the International Council on Large Electric Systems (CIGRE), addressed another challenge facing electricity operators: the growing influence of artificial intelligence. He said AI offered opportunities to improve the efficiency and management of electricity networks while simultaneously creating additional demand for power.
Adam highlighted the need for stronger technical cooperation as electricity systems adapt to renewable energy, digitalisation, electrification and climate-related risks.
He also drew attention to the Gulf’s experience in operating power networks under extreme temperatures and responding to rapid demand growth, areas in which regional expertise could contribute to international efforts to improve grid resilience.
Eng Adhari al Mohammed, Chairperson of CIGRE GCC, emphasised the importance of technical collaboration and knowledge exchange as utilities adopt renewable energy, storage technologies and increasingly sophisticated electricity systems.
Eng Zahir bin Mohammed al Busaidi, Chief Executive Officer of Oman Electricity Transmission Company (OETC), highlighted investment in advanced technologies, strategic transmission projects and national technical capabilities as priorities for strengthening the reliability and resilience of Oman’s electricity network.
The opening discussions reflected the increasingly interconnected nature of the Gulf’s electricity challenges, with investment in transmission infrastructure accompanied by growing requirements for manufacturing capacity, specialised skills and modern network management.
Hosted by OETC, a member of Nama Group, under the supervision of CIGRE GCC, the conference runs from November 2 to 4 at JW Marriott Muscat.
The 22nd GCC-CIGRE international conference is being held alongside the 32nd exhibition for electrical equipment. The three-day event brings together more than 40 speakers from 15 countries, with over 70 scientific papers, more than 45 technical posters and discussions covering 12 specialised themes.
More than 10 companies are participating in the accompanying exhibition, which provides a platform for electricity equipment manufacturers, technology providers and regional utilities.