Eastern Province Governor Reviews GCCIA’s Expanded Grid, Clean Energy & Cross-Border Power Trade Plans

Governor of the Eastern Region, Prince Saud bin Naif bin Abdulaziz, on Tuesday received a delegation from the Gulf Cooperation Council Interconnection Authority (GCCIA) at the principality headquarters, where officials presented updates on the GCC power grid expansion, clean energy integration, and long-term carbon neutrality initiatives.

During the meeting, Prince Saud underscored that the GCC interconnection network has now entered a new, broader operational phase, enabling wider electricity exchange and cross-border power trade across member states. He stressed that the project is opening “new horizons for international grid linkages,” enhancing regional energy security and maximizing economic value. The Governor commended GCCIA teams for strengthening grid reliability, operational readiness, and contribution to the region’s economic development agenda.

GCCIA CEO Eng. Ahmed Al-Ebrahim highlighted that the authority continues to play a pivotal role in supporting GCC nations—particularly Saudi Arabia—in accelerating the clean energy transition and achieving long-term carbon neutrality targets. He noted that renewable energy capacity across GCC member states is expected to exceed 120 GW by 2030, with a further rise toward 180 GW by 2040.

According to Al-Ebrahim, GCCIA’s grid management capabilities have helped integrate rapidly growing renewable capacity by stabilizing production variability, facilitating surplus electricity trade, and reducing the need for additional generation reserves. These efforts, he said, have contributed to nearly seven million tonnes of CO₂ emissions reduction in recent years.

He also emphasized the significant economic and social impact of the interconnection network, noting that GCCIA has launched a new strategic expansion phase from the Eastern Region. A key milestone is the expanded interconnection with Kuwait through new transmission lines and the Al-Wafra substation, which became fully operational in the third quarter of this year at a cost of USD 260 million. The station will serve as a critical gateway for future northern grid expansion.