Egypt to start generating power using coal by 2021; official says

Egypt is set to start generating electricity using coal by 2021 through coal-fired power plants whose capacities are expected to reach 13,000MW, an official at Egyptian Electricity Holding Company (EEHC) said.

Fouad Mansour -head of private sector projects department – told Amwal Al Ghad Thursday that Orascom Construction -a subsidiary of Dutch-based OCI N.V. – will establish a coal-fired power plant in El Hamraween area on the Red Sea Coast. The plant is set to operate with the capacity of 2,400-3,000 MW.

He added that there are another two coal-fired power plants that are set to operate with total capacity of 4,000 MW; one plant in Kafr El Sheikh governorate (2,000Mw) while the other will be built in West Damietta (2,000MW).

EEHC is currently in talks with investors  over establishing pier that will be allocated for receiving cargos of imported coal, the official said, adding that  developers themselves will import the necessary coal for operating the set-to-be-built plants within the upcoming period.

He added that using natural gas in the system of petrochemicals industries will participate in getting higher added value rather than burning it to get electricity.

Mansour noted that the Egyptian government expands in using different resources to generate power besides natural gas since it is currently starting the establishment works in coal-fired power projects in addition to Dabaa nuclear power plant.