The Arab Fund for Economic and Social Development has awarded a contract to Italian consulting company CESI Middle East and Denmark’s Ramboll to undertake a feasibility study for electricity and natural gas trading between 20 Arab countries.

CESI and Ramboll will prepare a strategy and masterplan for the trade of electricity and gas between the countries and determine the trade-offs between the two exports. The study will also identify the best options for new electricity and gas interconnections up to 2030.

The research will identify key infrastructures to be developed or enhanced to maximise the use of the nation’s gas resources.