DOHA: The Middle East and North African (MENA) countries are expected to pump nearly $250bn into power projects over the next five years to expand generation capacity and meet the growing domestic demand.
The projects will be one of the main topics of discussion at the 11th Power-Gen Middle East conference which will be held in Doha from February 4-6. Key officials and experts from the Gulf and other countries will attend the annual event. The event will explore new venture investments, intellectual property, enhanced technology solutions, management skills and innovative new products.
Significant energy-related projects as part of the 200 planned and announced ventures valued between $100m and $20bn will be major points of discussion at the event. Citing findings of a latest study conducted by Arab Petroleum Investment Corp (Apicorp), the organisers said in Dubai yesterday that six countries, which control 40 percent of the world’s recoverable oil resources, will add nearly half the expected additional power generation capacity in the region.
It estimated the total capital in power generation in Mena at $147.5bn during 2013-2017 to add about 123.9GW of electricity while the rest could cover water projects. The study puts investments in power projects at around $63.1bn in the GCC, $36.8bn in Mashreq (east) Arab nations, $21.4bn in Iran, $14.6bn in Maghreb Arab countries and nearly $2.3bn in other Arab nations.
More than 60 distinguished delegates from over 20 countries will speak about a variety of issues, including the challenges and opportunities for power project development, maximising today’s grid potential and tomorrow’s alternatives, renewable energy technologies and integration and operation and maintenance.
Delegates and visitors will also have the opportunity to view first-hand innovative and cutting-edge products and technologies by over 135 leading regional and international companies.
The Peninsula
