Egypt considers adding up to 3,000 MW of power capacity in linkage with Libya: minister

CAIRO – 29 April 2021: Egypt’s Electricity Minister Mohamed Shaker said the country is studying the possibility to add up to 2,000-3,000 megawatts of electricity in power linkage with Libya, up from 240 MW.

Shaker said the Egyptian Electricity Transmission Company started to raise the voltage of the electricity line between Egypt and Ethiopia to 500 kilovolts from 220 kilovolts.

Shaker noted that the ministry is keen to transfer electricity to Tripoli with the highest quality and best service.

Shaker’s remarks come a week after President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi expressed Egypt’s readiness to also export electricity to countries including Libya, Sudan, Jordan and Iraq, affirming that Egypt has an electricity surplus.

Sisi noted that Egypt can export to each of these countries up to 1,000-2,000 megawatts of electricity based on their needs.

Shaker said the ministry will choose an international consultant for the power linkage project with Cyprus at a capacity of 3,000 MW.

The minister noted that Egypt carries out power linkage projects with the aim of turning the country into an international hub of energy through linkage with Africa, Europe and the Gulf countries.

He noted that these projects will also help Egypt gain foreign currency.