Power Shortage in Fujairah Leaves Sparks Flying

Hugh Naylor at The National contributes yet another report on the electricity shortage that is affecting Fujairah (and other northern emirates) and this sad story is making headline news:

Shortages
A chronic shortage of electricity in the northern Emirates is a serious economic and environmental threat, a government study has found.

The National was allowed exclusive access to parts of the study, carried out over the past year by a special Federal National Council (FNC) committee.

The report paints a picture of poor planning for growth in the northern Emirates by the Federal Electricity and Water Authority (FEWA), which is responsible for providing the bulk of power there.

Extent
Ajman, Fujairah, Ras al Khaimah and Umm al Qaiwain, known as the northern Emirates, lack their own electricity and water authorities and are essentially dependent on federal supplies. About 1,000 commercial buildings in the region are waiting to be hooked up to the federal power grid, including 500 in Ajman.

Practical Responses
In many cases, building owners have been waiting months or even years for electricity.

Some have resorted to noisy, expensive and environmentally unfriendly petrol-powered generators to make their buildings inhabitable.

The side effects of generator-produced electricity has persuaded local authorities in Fujairah to significantly curtail their use.

Sparks Flying
Read the rest of Hugh Naylor’s article to see how people are reacting to this problem and the trickle on effects.

Link
Hugh Naylor, Emirates Left in the Dark, The National, 26 August 2009.

On Related Sites
UAE relationship with America is Up in the Air, Experiencing the Emirates, 26 August 2009.

Harrison Ford Adds to the America’s Cup Drama, America’s Cup in the UAE, 23 August 2009.

Dr Geoff Pound

Geoff can be contacted by email at geoffpound(at)gmail.com on Facebook and Twitter.

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Image: “This sad story is making headline news.”