Bahrain has inaugurated a BD280 million ($743 million) power grid development project.

In the first stage of the project – officially launched by the Prime Minister, HRH Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa – three 400 kV power stations will be built in Hidd, Umm Al Hassam and Riffa along with a ground transmission network. 

The project is scheduled for completion by December next year. 

Energy Minister Dr Abdulhussain Mirza and senior officials attended the ceremony which was organised by the Electricity and Water Authority.

The Premier praised the GCC countries for supporting development projects in Bahrain, including Kuwait which is contributing to the scheme through the Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development. 

He said a spate of projects being implemented in Bahrain will bolster its competitiveness to attract investment and spur growth rates. 

The project is being implemented by Siemens (Germany), Prysmian Group (Italy) and a Japanese company while Korea’s Hyundai is supplying transformers.