His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister, emphasized the strategic importance of inaugurating the Electricity and Water Networks Control Centre in enhancing infrastructure efficiency and increasing capacity to support development and growth.
He emphasized Bahrain’s dedication to advancing development across all sectors, strengthening the country’s competitiveness and driving real value for the national economy. His Royal Highness also highlighted the vital role of Bahraini citizens, whose ambition and determination continue to power the Kingdom’s progress under the leadership of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa.
The inauguration ceremony, which coincided with Bahrain’s National Day celebrations and the 25th anniversary of His Majesty the King’s accession to the throne, was attended by several senior officials, including His Highness Shaikh Isa bin Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Isa bin Salman Education Charitable Trust and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Labour Fund (Tamkeen); His Excellency Shaikh Khalid bin Abdulla Al Khalifa, Deputy Prime Minister; His Excellency General Shaikh Rashid bin Abdullah Al Khalifa, Minister of Interior; and His Excellency Shaikh Salman bin Khalifa Al Khalifa, Minister of Finance and National Economy.
During the event, His Royal Highness toured the center and received a briefing from His Excellency Kamal bin Ahmed Mohammed, President of the Electricity and Water Authority (EWA), on the project's objectives. The center aims to enhance the capacity, quality, efficiency, and reliability of the electricity and water transmission and distribution networks. It also aims to boost efficiency, cut maintenance costs, and enhance monitoring and control of the networks.
His Royal Highness noted that the inauguration of the control center represents a significant milestone in Bahrain's journey toward comprehensive development, which began 25 years ago with His Majesty the King's leadership. He emphasized the importance of infrastructure projects that leverage technological innovation to achieve optimal operational efficiency.
He further explained that the development of the electricity and water sector is fundamental to supporting major development initiatives that drive the national economy and enhance Bahrain's position. These projects contribute to economic diversification by investing in national resources and strengthening public-private partnerships, thereby increasing the Kingdom's investment appeal and advancing sustainable development. His Royal Highness also acknowledged the vital role of the private sector as a strategic partner in driving development and commended the efforts of the EWA's leadership and national workforce in implementing national strategies and plans.
His Excellency Kamal bin Ahmed Mohammed expressed his gratitude to His Royal Highness for inaugurating the Electricity and Water Networks Control Centre and for his continuous support of EWA's projects, which contribute to achieving the goals of Bahrain's comprehensive development under His Majesty the King's leadership. He noted that the centre, which includes four advanced monitoring and control stations, aligns with EWA's strategic plans to develop infrastructure according to the highest international standards. The center employs "Private LTE" technology, making Bahrain the first country in the Middle East to adopt this innovation, thereby enhancing the main electricity and water networks and meeting the increasing demand for these services.
The new Electricity and Water Networks Control Centre is a significant step toward transforming Bahrain's networks into smart systems. Its primary goal is to control and monitor all electricity and water networks in the Kingdom using advanced control systems and innovative technologies. The center manages the electricity transmission network, which includes 258 main transmission stations and a 1,906-kilometer ground cable network. It also oversees 10,400 electricity distribution substations and monitors and controls water desalination plants and water transmission and distribution networks, comprising 46 stations and a 618-kilometer pipeline network. Additionally, solar panels have been installed around the building and its parking areas to generate clean energy, covering approximately 50% of the center's electricity needs.