Gulf Cooperation Council states, facing an annual 12 percent increase in gas demand, intend
to import coal to power their electricity generating stations.
Officials said the six GCC states, particularly Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates,
have been plagued by a lack of gas infrastructure needed to maintain their
power supply.
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"If you have a product worth $120 per barrel, you want to sell it,"
Peter Barker-Homek, chief executive officer of the UAE's chief utility,
Taqa, said. "The question about coal is always the environment. It is
definitely cheaper than using crude oil."
Abu Dhabi and Dubai have been hardest hit by the prospect of a power
failure. Taqa plans to acquire a 50 percent stake in a proposed $1 billion
coal-fired power plant. Oman intends to use coal to fuel its 700-megawatt
power and water desalination plant. Several of the GCC states plan to import
coal from South Africa.
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