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RAK Al Ghail Power Plant to Start Operation Next Week

RAS AL KHAIMAH — Ras Al Khaimah’s new 84- megawatt Al Ghail Power Plant will start commercial production next week and will meet the energy needs of companies and commercial premises located at the Al Ghail Industrial Park, according to the authorities.

The gas- based power plant, set up by the Ras Al Khaimah Investment Authority (RAKIA), has been successfully tested and is ready to be connected to the grid powering the industrial park.

N. Zakkir Hussain, Advisor, Power and Water Projects at RAKIA, said that RAKIA will also fully commission the 45-megawatt open cycle gas-fired power plant Al Hamra- 1 within a week.

The plant has already started supplying 22.5 MW of power using one of its two turbines. The two plants were set up with a total investment of around Dh478 million ($130 million).

Al Hamra- 1 will supply power to Al Hamra Industrial Zone, RAKIA Free Zone and new residential projects in Al Hamra Village. RAKIA has been fast tracking the implementation of the four new power projects it announced last year to meet the emirate’s surging energy needs.

“The two plants will contribute an additional 130 MW capacity to the emirate and RAKIA is on track to meet its promise of providing reliablepower and water availability to all investors,” said Hussain.

Hussain said that the tendering process for the 120 MW Al Hamra- 2 power Plant was in the final stages and that the plant will be set up in 12 months time.

“The feasibility study for a 600 MW first phase of the coal- fired Mina Saqr power plant is also nearing completion,” he said.

The Mina Saqr plant can be developed to have a maximum capacity of 3000 MW, based on the emirate’s future power requirements,” he said.

Over the past two years, many new commercial buildings and institutions in Ras Al Khaimah, including shopping malls and university premises have faced power shortages.

Owners of some of the buildings, who had acquired bank loans for construction, had resorted to use of generators to make their buildings useful and settle the loans, but they could not afford the fuel to operate the generators on a daily basis. Muhammad Kasim who owns a new building in Ras Al Khaimah said, “The new power plants will relieve the emirate from the power problems. The new power plants will also boost the emirate’s industrial and real estate sectors which have been affected by power shortages.”

ismail@khaleejtimes.com