Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi called on Wednesday for accelerating the implementation of electricity interconnection projects with neighboring countries as part of Egypt’s overall development plan, during a meeting with Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly and Minister of Electricity Mohammed Shaker.
Sisi said during the meeting that electricity produced as part of the projects will be used for local consumption and exported to neighboring countries.
Sisi also stressed the need to continue efforts to upgrade Egypt’s electricity system and infrastructure.
Presidency’s Spokesperson Bassam Rady said that Sisi, Madbouly and Shaker also discussed the Ministry of Electricity’s strategic projects and the current situation regarding electricity and energy infrastructure in the New Administrative Capital.
The meeting covered progress on ongoing energy projects with African countries like Sudan, as well as the status of the Dabaa nuclear power plant project.
Egypt already enjoys shared power grids with Jordan at a capacity of 450 megawatts and Libya at a capacity of 200 megawatts.
Egypt, which hopes to become an electricity hub in the region, is an active participant in regional electricity grid projects, and Cairo has also signed a cooperative agreement with the Global Energy Interconnection Development and Cooperation Organization (GEIDCO).
Egypt announced back in December 2017 a project worth $1.6 billion connecting its power network to Saudi Arabia’s, joining a system in the Middle East that allows neighbors to share electricity. The project is set to have a capacity of 3,000 megawatts, allowing Egypt to export electricity in time of surplus and import electricity during shortages.
Edited translation from Al-Masry Al-Youm
