Cairo Delays Naming Winning Consultant For Saudi-Egypt Power Grid

Plans to announce a winning consultant for USD1.6 billion power grid that will enable Egypt and Saudi Arabia to share electricity has been delayed.

Aktham Abu El-Ela, first undersecretary of Egypt’s Ministry of Electricity, said on Monday, the government will announce the winning consulting for the project within a week.

Both countries were due to finalize the winner on December 12, according to a news report on Sunday in the Saudi Arabic language daily Alyoum.

Frontrunners for winning the contract include Teshmont Consultants, Transguard, Parsons, Italy’s CESI, and Germany’s Fichtner, according to a source close to the matter. Transguard is the company tipped to most likely win the contract, he added.

About 10 companies were invited to participate in the consultation and execution of the project.

The total investment in the project is USD 1,560 million, of which USD570 million will be paid by Egypt. Each government will assume the cost of grids and cables in its respective territory, while both countries will pay for the cost of the marine cable.

Jaber Al Dasouqi, chairman of the state-run Egyptian Electricity Holding Company, had told media that the project would produce 3,000MW of electricity in peak time.

Source : Zawya