Electricity Ministry carries feasibility studies of Egypt-Cyprus power connection
The Ministry of Electricity and Renewable Energy started working on the feasibility studies of the 3,000-megawatt project of electricity connection with Cyprus, a step forward after the ministry completed the study of the technical aspects of the project.
Egypt-Cyprus electricity linkage is considered the first step to connect Egypt with Europe electrically.
Spokesman of the Ministry of Electricity and Renewable Energy Ayman Hamza confirmed that the Cypriot partner handed over studies on the technical aspects to the Ministry of Electricity and the ministry reviewed them.
He confirmed that the feasibility studies are currently being carried out on the project.
Hamza added that the project of will enable Egypt to become a major axis of electric power for all the countries of the world, pointing out that these projects achieve a substantial material return in hard currency that benefits the Egyptian economy.
Hamza explained that the linkage with Cyprus provides Egypt with the possibility of linking with the European countries in full, referring that these projects come within the framework of the state’s plan to connect Egypt electrically with Europe, Africa and the Gulf States.
“The electricity linkage project with Cyprus has a capacity of 2,000 to 3,000 megawatts, according to the studies of the project,” he stated, adding that the project is of great interest to the two countries and is expected to proceed rapidly.
An official source at the Ministry of Electricity and Renewable Energy revealed that the price of kilowatt/hour will be more than the cost of kilowatt/hour in Egypt, pointing out that the selling price will come in three levels; the first is during the lowest load times, the second is within the average load and the third when loads reach the peak. The third level will be of the highest price.
During February 2019, Egypt announced that he extension of Toshky transmission plant, which is a double circuit transmission line stretching over 170 kilometers with a capacity of 220/66 kV, has been established and linked with Sudan’s Wadi Halfa in collaboration with Siemens.
Egypt announced earlier that it will sign the contracts of the electricity interconnection project with Saudi Arabia to start the implementation of the project.
Electrical interconnection lines between Egypt and Saudi Arabia are scheduled to begin operation in the beginning of 2021, with a capacity of 3,000 MW.
The Egyptian-Saudi project targets making Egypt a central hub for electricity among the Arab countries, aiming to establish an infrastructure for electricity trade between the Arab countries in preparation for the establishment of a common market for electricity.
Egypt is already electrically interconnected with Jordon and Libya. Egypt signed a memorandum of understanding with Cyprus and Greece to interconnect electrically, which will make Egypt a central hub for electricity linkage between three continents.
The electricity interconnection between Egypt and Jordon is currently working at capacities ranging between 400 and 450 MW. These capacities are currently being increased.
