meed-logo

line1 line2 line3
SIGN IN / REGISTER

Transforming Bahrain’s electricity and water sector

19 December 2023

 

Register for MEED's guest programme 

In June 2022, Kamal bin Ahmed Mohammed was appointed president of Bahrain’s Electricity & Water Authority after overseeing the delivery of major projects, including the new terminal at Bahrain International airport, as transport minister. 

Mohammed is quick to stress how essential EWA is to Bahrain.

“EWA is an important entity in Bahrain. Its infrastructure is an enabler for economic growth as well as for the social development of Bahrain,” he says.

“The customer base of EWA is the whole of Bahrain – the Bahrainis and the people living here. It has the largest customer base in Bahrain, with 468,000 customers. It is also a big employer with about 2,200 people.

“We are one of the biggest asset-based entities in Bahrain. It has BD2.4bn ($6.4bn) of assets, and if it becomes a company, it would be one of the biggest companies in Bahrain,” he says.

Government company

Mohammed’s last point is crucial as Bahrain’s electricity and water industry embarks on a transformation.

“The plan now is to transform the industry as a whole,” he explains.

“I have been given a mandate to make sure we have the right structure for Bahrain’s electricity and water industry. We are now in the process of establishing a regulatory body for electricity and water. 

“We have a team working on that, as well as turning EWA from a government authority into a government company. That is the first stage, to corporatise.”

Transforming the industry is a major undertaking. “It requires a lot of things to be done,” says Mohammed. “EWA will need to be licensed by the regulator. For that, we have developed a transformation plan comprising different strategic themes and programmes. 

“Hopefully, within the next two years, we will be able to achieve and deliver our objectives.” 

When asked if the plan is for EWA to follow in the footsteps of Dubai Electricity & Water Authority (Dewa) and eventually launch an initial public offering (IPO), Mohammed says that will be a decision for the future.

“The first phase is to corporatise and be owned by the government. The government can decide at a later stage if it is the best decision to divest part of it in the local market. That is another phase; we are now focusing on corporatisation.”

Asked if the plan is to follow in Dewa’s footsteps and launch an IPO, Mohammed says that is a decision for the future

Energy transition

Bahrain’s electricity and water industry is being transformed at a time of great change in the industry globally as countries commit to decarbonisation targets. Bahrain has committed to achieving net zero by 2060.

“EWA has an important role to play in this process and this is why we have developed our energy transition plan,” says Mohammed.

“We have set our target to increase clean, renewable energy in our energy mix during the next one or two years. Our targets now are to be 5 per cent renewable by 2025, and 20 per cent by 2035.”

Reducing carbon emissions involves supply and demand measures. To help manage demand, in early December EWA launched the Kafaa programme in cooperation with Energy Service Companies to increase the efficiency of energy consumption in government buildings.

The aim is to save electricity consumption by around 975 gigawatt hours and reduce carbon emissions by about 488,000 tonnes by 2040. 

The programme will also work with the private sector. “We already have commitments from big entities and financial institutions. They are ready to take part because although they will spend a few hundred thousand dinars improving their efficiency, they will recover their money in two years. Our pilot study showed that it takes two to three years to recover the initial investment,” says Mohammed.

Although this may dent EWA’s revenues in the short term, Mohammed explains there is a bigger picture.

“In the long term, it is better for EWA because it means it can delay capital investments. And today, 67 per cent of EWA’s costs are production, so if we can delay future production, it means we will save money over time,” he adds.

For supply, Bahrain has introduced a net metering project, which allows people or businesses to generate electricity and, when not used, feed back into the grid.

“We already have 50MW connected to the grid. We have another 150MW in progress, and we think that by the end of 2026, we will have 300MW connected to the network,” says Mohammed.

Future projects

With limited land available for solar plants, floating solar plants are attractive future projects for Bahrain. Other alternative energy sources, including nuclear and small modular reactors, are also being monitored for future use.

As renewable energy projects come online, Bahrain is closing down old power-generating assets.

“The last part of our energy transition plan is to shut down the old cogeneration plants,” says Mohammed. “We closed the Sitra power plant, and we have also closed Riffa 1. During the next two to three years, we will close two plants: one at Hidd and the Riffa 2 power plant.”

With renewable energy unable to provide the baseload Bahrain needs at night, there are plans to build one more gas-fired power plant. “Using less gas, it will be what we hope will be the last gas-fired power plant in Bahrain,” says Mohammed.

https://image.digitalinsightresearch.in/uploads/NewsArticle/11375979/main.gif
Colin Foreman

Register for MEED's guest program now to access this article.

Click here to register
Exclusive from Meed
Related Articles
  • Dewa International signs energy and infrastructure MoUs

    22 October 2026

    Dubai Electricity & Water Authority’s (Dewa) new development arm, Dewa International, has signed four memorandums of understanding (MoUs) with international partners to explore investment and project development opportunities in the energy, water and infrastructure sectors.

    The agreements, signed during Dubai’s Water, Energy, Technology and Environment Exhibition (Wetex 2026), follow the launch of the wholly owned subsidiary in June, as reported by MEED.

    At the time, the utility said the arm would be used to export Dubai’s energy and water infrastructure model, with a focus on developing conventional and clean energy projects for global markets.

    At Wetex, Dewa International signed an MoU with France’s EDF Power Solutions to explore potential joint participation in solar, wind, battery energy storage and pumped-storage hydropower projects.

    A separate agreement with China Energy International Group explores the company’s potential role as an engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) partner for major energy, water and infrastructure projects. The MoU also covers cooperation in project development and EPC services.

    A further agreement with UK-based Capital Dynamics focuses on potential joint investments in operational clean energy assets in Europe. The parties will also explore establishing an investment vehicle for future clean energy infrastructure investments.

    Dewa International also signed a fourth agreement with Mumbai-Headquartered Tata Consultancy Services, exploring the company’s potential role as a technical consultancy partner. The scope covers technology strategy, information technology and operational technology integration, and asset performance management solutions.

    Dewa currently has almost $7bn-worth of power and water projects under execution across the UAE, according to regional projects tracker MEED Projects.

    Its flagship Mohammed Bin Rashid Al-Maktoum Solar Park is the largest single-site solar park in the world. The utility is currently advancing the project’s seventh phase, with Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company (Masdar) recently submitting the lowest bid for the project, as exclusively reported by MEED.

    https://image.digitalinsightresearch.in/uploads/NewsArticle/20828111/main0128.jpg
    Mark Dowdall
  • QatarEnergy and TotalEnergies to develop Lebanon solar plant

    22 October 2026

    Register for MEED’s 14-day trial access 

    State-owned QatarEnergy and France’s TotalEnergies have agreed to jointly develop a solar power plant in Lebanon.

    The agreement was announced on 16 October during the Qatari prime minister’s official visit to Beirut, where he held a joint press conference with Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam.

    According to a statement published by the Lebanese Prime Minister's Office, the plant will be an initial project under a broader framework for energy cooperation between Qatar and Lebanon. Its capacity, location, investment value and implementation schedule have yet to be disclosed.

    Qatar’s Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed Bin Abdulrahman Bin Jassim Al-Thani said: “The aim is to develop a major investment project that benefits the Lebanese economy, as well as the Qatari companies and entities participating in it.”

    Separately, Salam said the Lebanese and Qatari governments were “close to reaching an agreement” to rehabilitate, develop and modernise Lebanon’s electricity-generation infrastructure.

    The proposed project would cover the country’s various electricity-generation sources and associated infrastructure, aiming to improve the reliability of electricity supplies and reduce costs.

    The project would use a build, operate and transfer model, under which Qatari entities would finance, implement and operate the facilities without upfront investment costs for the Lebanese treasury, Salam said.

    Salam also said the proposal was being prepared with support from the International Finance Corporation, and that he hoped to present it to the Lebanese government soon.

    The wider initiative is intended to address Lebanon’s longstanding electricity-generation shortfall and overcome financing constraints that have delayed infrastructure projects in the sector.

    As MEED previously reported, the Lebanese government continues to advance broader reforms to the country’s electricity sector.

    In August, Lebanon’s Electricity Regulatory Authority invited private sector companies to submit expressions of interest (EoIs) for several upcoming power-generation projects.

    The EoIs cover up to five grid-connected solar photovoltaic projects with a combined installed capacity of 350 megawatts-peak. The projects are also expected to include battery energy storage systems with a combined capacity of 1,000 megawatt-hours. 

    The regulator is also seeking proposals for distributed dual-fired thermal power plants with net capacities of 20MW-100MW.

    READ THE OCTOBER 2026 MEED BUSINESS REVIEW – click here to view PDF

    Industry and logistics drive development at Neom; Saudi Arabia’s investment priorities realign amid conflict; MEED’s 2026 power developer ranking.

    Distributed to senior decision-makers in the region and around the world, the October 2026 edition of MEED Business Review includes:
    To see previous issues of MEED Business Review, please click here
    https://image.digitalinsightresearch.in/uploads/NewsArticle/20827458/main.jpg
    Mark Dowdall
  • Building resilience into infrastructure delivery

    21 October 2026

     

    The regional disruptions earlier this year tested Gulf supply chains, challenging the movement of goods and construction materials and raising questions about the ability of infrastructure programmes to maintain momentum.

    For the UAE Ministry of Energy & Infrastructure, the experience reinforced the importance of the systems that support project delivery, from transport networks and customs procedures to domestic manufacturers and international suppliers.

    “The disruption reinforced an important principle: infrastructure resilience is ultimately about the ability of the national system to continue operating under pressure,” says Mohammed Al-Mansoori, undersecretary for infrastructure and transport affairs.

    Supply resilience

    The ministry worked with ports, customs authorities, transport and rail operators, contractors, suppliers and the private sector to maintain the flow of essential goods and construction materials. It monitored critical materials and project schedules, identified alternative sources and adjusted procurement and delivery arrangements.

    The response included movement exemptions and facilitation measures for more than 6,600 lorries, while rail freight operations increased from approximately one journey a week to as many as seven journeys a day. Priority and green corridors were activated, customs procedures facilitated and critical shipments prioritised at ports.

    According to Al-Mansoori, these measures contributed to an estimated 25% reduction in transport costs, a 40% improvement in customs clearance times and an increase of approximately 15% in port capacity during the response period.

    For infrastructure projects, the ministry worked with local manufacturers and suppliers to identify alternative sources of road and construction materials meeting the required technical specifications and quality standards. This helped reduce reliance on disrupted international supply routes and support ongoing projects.

    The experience also highlighted the value of existing coordination mechanisms and partnerships.

    “It also reinforced a fundamental principle: resilience means ensuring that critical infrastructure delivery does not depend on a single supplier, a single route or a single mode of transport,” Al-Mansoori says.

    The ministry is planning to build on this experience by diversifying suppliers, strengthening domestic manufacturing and improving supply-chain monitoring.

    Resilience is increasingly being incorporated into procurement planning. For critical materials and services, the ministry aims to identify risks early, broaden the pool of qualified suppliers and ensure viable alternatives are available.

    The approach supports the UAE’s wider industrial objectives, including the national in-country value programme, which seeks to direct a greater share of procurement expenditure into the national economy.

    “Our objective is not simply to purchase more locally. It is to help create competitive national supply chains,” Al-Mansoori says.

    Domestic suppliers must be able to meet the technical requirements, quality standards and volumes demanded by major infrastructure programmes. Localisation is therefore about developing competitive industrial capabilities while shortening supply chains, improving responsiveness and encouraging investment.

    “Localisation is not simply a procurement choice; it is an investment in national capability and long-term resilience,” Al-Mansoori says.

    The ministry is also working with contractors to manage pressures from fluctuating material, insurance and transport costs. Its approach combines commercial discipline with early engagement to prevent external pressures from affecting project delivery.

    “Our approach is based on early engagement, transparency and disciplined commercial management,” Al-Mansoori says. “Long-term infrastructure delivery depends on strong contractors as much as it depends on strong contracts.”

    Contractors remain responsible for normal market and contractual risks, but the ministry seeks to assess exceptional pressures objectively, supported by evidence of their impact on costs and schedules. Realistic planning, early procurement and proactive risk management also help maintain momentum.

    “The objective is to strike the right balance between protecting the government’s commercial interests and securing best value for money, while maintaining an efficient, sustainable contracting market capable of continuing to deliver strategic infrastructure projects,” Al-Mansoori says.

    Resilience means ensuring that critical infrastructure delivery does not depend on a single supplier, a single route or a single mode of transport

    Project delivery

    The ministry’s focus on measurable outcomes is reflected in the Emirates Road enhancement project, which involves widening approximately 25 kilometres of Emirates Road from three to five lanes in each direction, alongside major improvements to Interchange No. 7.

    The works are expected to increase road capacity by up to 65% and reduce journey times by up to 45%.

    The project illustrates the ministry’s emphasis on assessing infrastructure by the benefits it delivers, rather than simply the scale of construction.

    “Infrastructure success should be measured by the value it creates – not just by the kilometres we build,” Al-Mansoori says.

    That principle is increasingly important as the UAE balances new construction with the long-term costs of operating and maintaining its assets. Decisions made during planning and construction can influence maintenance requirements, operating costs and performance for decades.

    For Al-Mansoori, resilience, domestic capability and effective delivery are closely connected. Stronger local supply chains can reduce exposure to external shocks, while closer engagement with contractors can help projects withstand cost pressures. 

    Don’t miss MEED’s MENA Construction Summit 2026, taking place under the patronage of the UAE Ministry of Energy & Infrastructure
     Secure your place as an attendee or request the sponsorship deck by clicking here or emailing us at meedevents@meed.com

     

    https://image.digitalinsightresearch.in/uploads/NewsArticle/20810056/main.gif
    MEED Editorial
  • Riyadh tenders Expo 2030 Adaptation and Innovation Pavilion

    21 October 2026

     

    Register for MEED’s 14-day trial access 

    Expo 2030 Riyadh has tendered the design-and-build main contract for the Adaptation and Innovation Pavilion in the exhibition’s Technology District.

    The pavilion will be built on a plot of at least 12,710 square metres and will feature a two-level basement, ground-level public areas, an elevated skywalk, visitor experience areas, food and beverage outlets, retail space, VIP facilities, offices, back-of-house areas, exhibition spaces, an amphitheatre and a resonance hall.

    The facility is being designed to accommodate a minimum of 20,000 visitors a day at peak periods, with an anticipated average of about 15,000 visitors a day. The project targets LEED Gold certification.

    The tender was issued on 1 October, with bids due on 6 January 2027.

    The design-and-build contractor will be responsible for completing, reviewing, verifying, coordinating and technically integrating the design, including specialist contractor design portions and coordination with the novated lead design consultant.

    The scope includes completing early works and substructure activities, including grading, bulk earthworks, excavation, cut and fill, soil improvement, raft foundations, reinforced-concrete basement walls, basement columns through to the ground-floor slab, waterproofing, mechanical, electrical and plumbing (MEP) provisions, and backfilling.

    The contractor will also deliver the superstructure and building envelope, including structural works, facade engineering and installation, roofs, waterproofing, external finishes, and permanent facade access and maintenance systems. The internal works will cover front-of-house and back-of-house areas, public and core spaces, internal finishes, fixtures, fixed fittings, joinery, circulation areas, lobbies, stairs, toilets, storage, waste areas and associated builder’s works.

    The building services package includes MEP systems, information and communications technology, extra-low-voltage systems, building management systems, security, fire and life safety systems, specialist lighting and vertical transportation.

    The contract also covers the visitor experience package, including procurement, installation, integration, testing, commissioning and handover of visitor-facing environments, media, immersive and audiovisual technologies, interactive elements, experiential lighting, digital content, interpretive and wayfinding systems, controls and supporting infrastructure.

    Within-plot infrastructure and utilities, landscaping, public realm works, paving, planting, irrigation, signage, street furniture, drainage, stormwater systems, external lighting, security, and fire and life safety systems are also included.

    The contractor will be responsible for procurement, off-site fabrication, construction, testing and commissioning, performance verification, training, operations and maintenance documentation, operational readiness, handover, defects rectification and close-out.

    The main works tender is based on a 60% RIBA Stage 3 design, with the Stage 3 design to be completed to 100% through an addendum.

    Early works and substructure works, as well as the lead design consultant, will be novated to the contractor. Visitor experience works are included as a provisional sum.

    https://image.digitalinsightresearch.in/uploads/NewsArticle/20801465/main.jpeg
    Yasir Iqbal
  • Mubadala Bio lands Lilly logistics deal

    21 October 2026

    Mubadala Bio, the life sciences subsidiary of Abu Dhabi state investor Mubadala Investment Company, has signed an agreement with US drugmaker Eli Lilly to localise the packaging and logistics of Lilly’s glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) medicines in Abu Dhabi.

    The work will take place at a 125,000-square-metre site in Khalifa Economic Zones Abu Dhabi (Kezad), which includes packaging and warehousing facilities. Mubadala Bio said the facilities would strengthen its pharmaceutical contract manufacturing, packaging and logistics capabilities and its ability to serve international clients from the UAE.

    The packaging and logistics activities will be introduced in phases and will be subject to technical, quality and regulatory requirements. The companies did not disclose the value of the agreement or a timeline for the first phase.

    The Emirates Drug Establishment approved Lilly’s oral GLP-1 drug Foundayo (orforglipron) for chronic weight management in April. The companies said this made the UAE the second country in the world to register the medicine.

    In Abu Dhabi, the treatment is available to eligible patients under a weight management programme launched by the Abu Dhabi Department of Health and the Abu Dhabi Public Health Centre in June 2025. The UAE was also an early launch market for Lilly’s injectable treatment Mounjaro (tirzepatide) in August 2022.

    Mubadala launched Mubadala Bio in 2025 to expand domestic drug manufacturing and distribution, with a focus on national drug security. It is one of Mubadala’s designated national champions, set up to support strategic sectors. At launch, its combined facilities covered 110,000 square metres, with an annual capacity of more than 2.5 billion tablets and capsules and 120 million intravenous and injectable units.

    https://image.digitalinsightresearch.in/uploads/NewsArticle/20801279/main.jpg
    Colin Foreman