Consequent to the economic agreements between the Gulf Cooperation Council States signed by their Majesties and Highnesses GCC Leaders back in 1981 several committees were formed to administer and implement the power grid. The idea for the project was conceived in 1986 when a study was conducted by a Committee from the GCC countries in cooperation with the Kuwait Research Institute and King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals. Subsequently, the GCC Committee recognized the technical benefits of the project and conducted a feasibility update study in 1990 in collaboration with Gulf Investment Bank and Canadian based SNC-Lavalin to determine the viability of the project on an economical and financial perspective, which resulted in the establishment of the GCCIA.