JICA celebrates 80% completion of 2 power plants upgrade in Egypt

CAIRO – 2 June 2021: JICA celebrated on Monday the 80 percent completion of El Atf and Sidi Krir Power Plants Upgrade as well the conclusion of the new Long-Term Service and Supply Agreement for 3 Power Stations in Middle Delta, West Delta and North Cairo by Mitsubishi Power.

During Middle of 2019, completion of the rehabilitation of Cairo North Power Plant was also realized under same project while full completion of Sidi-Krir and El-Atf is targeted in November 2021.

This achievement comes under the frame work of the Electricity Sector Rehabilitation and Improvement Project which is financed by JICA with an amount totaling around $400 million for the above mentioned 3 power plants including upgrades increasing the plants’ output, improving their power generation efficiency, and reducing facility downtime. 

The ceremony was attended by Gaber Dessouki, Chairman of the Egyptian Electricity Holding Company and NOKE Masaki, Ambassador of Japan to Egypt, as well as Carlos Peton, CEO of Mitsubishi Power Europe.

The attendees included also representatives from West Delta Electricity Production Company (WDEPC), which operates the Sidi Krir complex as a subordinate of EEHC; and officials from the competent Egyptian authorities

The project plays an important role since it is expected to recover the installed capacity of the existing thermal power plants and reduce the greenhouse emissions through upgrading the equipment of the existing thermal power plants and provision of spare parts, and thereby, contribute to the stability of electricity supply and economic and social development and climate change mitigation in Egypt.

Dessouki said that the Rehabilitation and improvement of the existing plants is regarded as a useful means since it often requires less time and is more cost-effective than construction of new power plants. He hailed the fruitful cooperation with JICA along many years.

JICA Chief Representative, Omura Yoshifumi highlighted that El-Atf and Sidi Krir projects which were implemented by Mitsubishi Power back in 2009 are still functioning with good condition where they could achieve 17.5 percent power increase and enhanced efficiency through this project. This is also a witness of the sustainability and reliability of Japanese technology which we are proud of.

Yoshifumi also emphasized that this project adds to the success stories JICA has with the Government of Egypt and the record of Japan’s cooperation in this crucial sector which has realized great advancement, reform and stability under the leadership of President El-Sisi and the Minister Mohamed Shaker.

He shared JICA’s aspiration for further strengthening of cooperation in the future.