Latest news with #ElectricityandWaterAuthority
Daily Tribune
13-05-2025
- Business
- Daily Tribune
EWA launches energy efficiency programme
His Excellency Kamal bin Ahmed Mohammed, President of the Electricity and Water Authority (EWA) in the Kingdom of Bahrain, announced the commencement of the 'Kafa'a' programme across 12 government buildings, as part of a broader plan targeting 20 government buildings and 14 private buildings in 2025. This initiative supports the Kingdom's ongoing efforts to optimise energy efficiency, reduce operational costs, and lower carbon emissions.
Biz Bahrain
13-05-2025
- Business
- Biz Bahrain
EWA launches energy efficiency programme across government, private buildings
Kamal bin Ahmed Mohammed, President of the Electricity and Water Authority (EWA) in the Kingdom of Bahrain, announced the commencement of the 'Kafa'a' programme across 12 government buildings, as part of a broader plan targeting 20 government buildings and 14 private buildings in 2025. This national initiative supports the Kingdom's ongoing efforts to optimise energy efficiency, reduce operational costs, and lower carbon emissions across public and private sector facilities. Reducing carbon emissions is one of the programme's primary objectives, targeting a savings of approximately 308 gigawatt-hours in electricity consumption and a reduction of nearly 154,000 tonnes of emissions by 2040, making it one of the Kingdom's key national projects in support of carbon neutrality efforts. The tender for the first group of government buildings has been awarded to energy services companies (ESCOs), which will implement the required efficiency measures in collaboration with EWA. Simultaneously, the Authority has initiated the tendering process for a second group of government buildings and issued a separate tender for private sector facilities, marking an expansion of the programme across key sectors in Bahrain. Upon implementation, the programme is projected to deliver annual electricity savings of approximately 37 gigawatt-hours, financial savings of over BD 1 million, and a reduction of nearly 19,000 tonnes in carbon emissions each year 'Kafa'a' is a strategic national project designed to enhance energy efficiency across high-consumption facilities in both the public and private sectors. The programme works in partnership with ESCOs specialised companies that provide energy auditing, performance monitoring, and financing solutions. EWA oversees the execution, monitors impact, and ensures the achievement of projected savings in accordance with contractual commitments, supporting the Kingdom's sustainability goals and its net-zero ambitions by 2060. The programme was officially launched in December 2023 following a resolution by the Cabinet, chaired by His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister. The launch followed the success of a pilot project that recorded a 41% reduction in energy consumption, a 39% decrease in utility bills, and an annual reduction of 5,430 tonnes in carbon emissions across selected government facilities. BNA(R)
Daily Tribune
07-05-2025
- Business
- Daily Tribune
Bahrain Builds Power Backbone
Bahrain's electricity grid is preparing for a major leap in capacity with the construction of the Al Jasra 400kV Transmission Station, the country's largest power transmission project to date. His Excellency Eng. Kamal bin Ahmed Mohammed, President of the Electricity and Water Authority (EWA), visited the site to inspect progress and underline the project's critical role in future-proofing Bahrain's energy infrastructure. The strategic facility is set to reduce pressure on the Riffa substation by up to 25%, a move expected to significantly improve load distribution, cut outage risks, and stabilise the national grid. Regional Integration The project also ensures full integration of energy from Phase Two of the Al Dur Power Plant and boosts Bahrain's ability to meet future demand. A key feature is the upgrade of cross-border connections with GCC neighbours from 220kV to 400kV, enabling more reliable electricity trade and regional power resilience. Global Partnerships The 16,000-square-metre site will host infrastructure supplied by global energy giants Siemens (Germany), Hitachi (Japan), Iljin and Taihan (South Korea), and TBEA (China). The development will add 2,000 MVA in capacity, marking a 45% increase, with 130 km of 400kV underground cabling (up 92%) and 90 km of 220kV cables (up 14%) forming part of the overhaul. The Al Jasra station is expected to be operational by 2026, in line with EWA's pledge to deliver reliable and sustainable energy services across the Kingdom.
Daily Tribune
13-04-2025
- Business
- Daily Tribune
Widows face bill transfers as BD20 utility discount offered
Up to BD20 is being knocked off electricity bills for low-income families under a royal grant, according to the Electricity and Water Authority's response to a parliamentary question. The support is arranged in coordination with the Ministry of Social Development, which provides lists of eligible households. Most receive a BD10 deduction, though some are granted twice that amount depending on their circumstances. Income The Authority said it does not sort subscribers by income, explaining that this is the role of other government bodies. It relies on existing classifications already used by the Ministry of Social Development and similar entities. The response followed questions from MP Zainab AbdulAmeer, who raised concerns about the treatment of poorer families, the practice of transferring debts following a subscriber's death, and the longer-term direction of electricity and water subsidies. On inherited arrears, the Authority said it does not seek payment from heirs unless the debt is linked to property they have received. Owned homes do not require deposits, so the property itself is treated as the guarantee. If a family chooses to keep using the supply after the death of the account holder, one of the heirs must take over the account and settle any outstanding bills. It is not lawful to continue providing the service in the name of someone who has died, the Authority said, as the person no longer has a financial or legal standing. It added that in such cases, the financial and social conditions of the widow and children are considered before any action is taken. To reduce the risk of disconnection, the Authority offers fixed-rate monthly plans for Bahraini subscribers. These allow people to spread the cost of electricity and water evenly throughout the year. Those who fall behind may be allowed to pay what they owe in instalments, depending on the case. Options Even with these options in place, the Authority said that current rates paid by Bahrainis with a single account cover only a fraction of the real cost. The present tariff accounts for just 21.7 per cent of the cost of electricity and 6.2 per cent of the cost of water. Electricity and water are produced using modern equipment that is designed to use fuel efficiently. Competitive tendering is used to keep down the cost of supply while maintaining reliability. The Authority said it chooses machinery that consumes less fuel, helping reduce production and purchasing costs. It also urged people to be more careful in their use of water and electricity, arguing that less waste would ease the financial load on both households and the government. A more measured approach to consumption would also help preserve resources and limit harm to the environment. Subsidies are currently applied based on usage brackets set out in a ministerial order issued in 2016. The Ministry of Electricity and Water Affairs said it remains ready to continue working with Parliament to achieve shared aims.
Daily Tribune
12-04-2025
- Business
- Daily Tribune
Private power saves Bahrain BD99 million
TDT | Manama Th e privatisation of Bahrain's power sector has begun to yield major benefits. Latest figures show that the government's move away from direct power generation has saved the Kingdom BD99 million in just two years. This comes despite BD161 million being spent on subsidies in 2023 alone. The average price per unit now stands at 21.7 fils per kilowatt-hour. The data was released by the Electricity and Water Authority (EWA) in response to a parliamentary question by MP Mahmood Fardan. The shift was not sudden — it began nearly 20 years ago. Newer machinery, improved supply chains, and strategic placement of power plants have all played a crucial role in cutting costs, according to EWA. Decommissioning older power stations in Sitra and Riffa also contributed by improving gas usage efficiency. Smart meters that track consumption without manual readings, along with digital platforms for billing and account management, have further boosted operational efficiency. The actual cost While electricity is purchased at 21.7 fils per kilowatt-hour, an additional 7.5 fils is spent on distribution to end-users. Thousands of substations connected via transmission lines are instrumental in keeping Bahrain powered around the clock. More savings on the way EWA says it expects to save a further BD68 million this year, thanks to the commissioning of new fuel-efficient units at Al Dur 2. subsidies When asked for a breakdown of subsidies by month and customer category, EWA said it could not provide that level of detail. However, it confirmed that total subsidies in 2023 stood at BD161 million, as per audited financial records. Ongoing efforts Switching from thermal desalination to reverse osmosis, which requires significantly less electricity, is another step towards cost efficiency. Additionally, the Authority is rolling out value-added services that generate revenue.
