Description:
The objective of this study is to carry
out a country-by-country analysis of the power and gas
sector demand and supply picture in order to assess
opportunities for regional energy integration in the Mashreq
and neighboring countries, and to identify specific
interconnection projects that may require support from the
World Bank and other international financiers. The study is
conducted in the context of the World Bank Arab World
Initiative. Although the present study focuses on Mashreq
countries, issues of regional integration are intertwined
among various Middle East and North Africa (MENA)
sub-regions, and Turkey with eventual integration with
Europe, so Mashreq is not considered in isolation. There are
two other parallel efforts to examine the energy integration
potential in the Maghreb and the Gulf Cooperation Council
(GCC) countries. In addition, the World Bank and its
partners are implementing a major solar power initiative
with support from the Clean Technology Fund (CTF) to assist
the MENA countries with development of large scale
concentrated solar power (CSP) electricity generation
capabilities for their own use or for export to other
countries. Large scale development of solar power is
expected to support and facilitate regional integration
among MENA countries and with Europe as well.