Danish firm eyes up to USD 7bn Bahrain green island - report

(ADPnews) - Aug 30, 2010 - Danish architecture firm Gottlieb Paludan could develop a USD 4 billion (EUR 3bn) to USD 7 billion artificial island in Bahrain powered entirely by renewable energy.

The island, to cover 12.5 square metres (134.5 square feet), will use various renewable energy sources and could also represent an offshore business centre. It will have a reservoir using tidal, wind and solar power, with a capacity of nearly 119 million cubic metres (4 billion cubic feet).

The project is still awaiting official proposal to the Bahrain government but it has found the approval of authorities so far.

"Without a doubt we will need to start using solar energy and wind energy sooner or later and we would welcome such a project", said Bahrain's Municipalities and Agriculture Minister Dr Juma Al Ka'abi. Still, in-depth studies will have to be carried out before the Danish firm embarks on the project, said Dr Ismael Al Madani, director-general of the Public Commission for the Protection of Marine Resources, Environment and Wildlife.

Gottlieb Paludan wil first make a demonstration model of the green island in Danish sea waters, but it has not yet fixed a date for the start of construction works. To come closer to the realisation of the project, the company is working with the Danish Institute for Sustainable Energy.

(USD 1 = EUR 0.785)

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