SUEZ Energy International inaugurates first private power plant in Bahrain

The inauguration ceremony took place on May 15th 2007, in the presence of the Crown Prince, HH Shaikh Salman Bin Hamad Al Khalifa.

The USD 500 million state-of-the-art combined cycle power plant will supply electricity to the Ministry of Electricity & Water under a 20-year Power Purchase Agreement. The plant is fired by natural gas supplied by the Bahrain Petroleum Company (BAPCO) under a long-term natural gas sales agreement.

The efficient financing of the Al Ezzel plant and its fast-track implementation has won several international awards.

Since 30 April 2006, Al Ezzel has been supplying 470 MW of electricity to the grid, helping to ensure a reliable supply of power during the hot summer months. From now on, it will be contributing its full output of 950 MW to Bahrain's growing economy.

The Al Ezzel Power Company is 45% owned by SUEZ Energy International, 45% by Gulf Investment Corporation, and the remainder by the Pension Fund Commission of the Kingdom of Bahrain.

Including its 30% stake in the Hidd Independent Water and Power project, SUEZ Energy International is expected to satisfy up to 50% of the demand on Bahrain's electricity grid.

Dirk Beeuwsaert, CEO of SUEZ Energy International, commented : "We firmly believe in maintaining a strong presence in the Middle East : the uniquely attractive investment climate and the existence of long-term power purchase contracts make it a key region for SUEZ's development strategy."

The Middle East now represents a significant part in the SUEZ portfolio: the company has a direct equity interest in 8,200 MW of electricity and 1.8 million m³ of water per day.