1 Why should I buy an apartment with District Cooling, because I feel insecure as District Cooling is a monopoly and I have no alternative cooling option?
2. How can I be sure that the company will not inflate the cost of cooling in later years to increase profits?
3. Why is one particular District Cooling company allowed to excavate the public roads, causing traffic delays? How did we allow it?
4. Why should I as a developer contribute to the capital cost of extending District Cooling networks to my development?
5. Why is one District Cooling company allowed to occupy major utility corridors underground, where there is a shortage of space for electricity, water and drainage?
6. Why should I as a developer share the cost savings I am making by signing up to a District Cooling contract? I am in this development business to get a return on investment. What is the problem here? Why not let the District Cooling provider pass on that cost to the customer in their tariff?
7. How can I promote a District Cooling provision for an urban area in this climate when there is no safety net if the private company goes bankrupt? What happens to the customers and the company’s assets? Are we left to talking to the bank for continuous service?
8. The pipework that supplies my development with District Cooling is under my control. What rights does the District Cooling company have to supply the neighbouring development through my real estate?
9. What rights does the District Cooling company have to insist on that level of protection and expenditure from me, the developer, when I want to build a road? What rights do they have to tell me what to do?
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Dominic McPolin is the Chief, Central Planning Office, Ministry of Works, Municipalities Affairs & Urban Planning, Bahrain. He can be contacted at xo@works.gov.bh
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