Saudi Arabia has a big share of the GCC's annual average power consumption of nine per cent, which is triple the global figure GCC countries require additional investment of SR4.5 trillion to bring their energy and infrastructure networks to a level which can support the economic diversification of the region, according to a report by Ithmar Capital. The first phase of the GCC's three-phase SR6 billion project to link member states' electrical grids is scheduled to be finished by the end of next year as scheduled. Phase one will link the grids of Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Bahrain. The entire project is set to be completed by 2010. u Saudi Arabia is also embarking on grid-connectivity projects with Egypt and Yeman. Once the Saudi-Egyptian grid is completed, a pan-Arab grid is planned to link the GCC countries through Saudi Arabia with other Arab nations. __
