Electrical interconnection through Cyprus turns Egypt into regional hub for energy transmission to Europe

CAIRO - 28 September 2021: Minister of Electricity and Renewable Energy, Mohamed Shaker, received Tuesday Homer Mavrommatis, the Ambassador of Cyprus in Cairo, to follow up on the developments of the electrical interconnection (power linkage) project between the two countries.

Shaker praised the depth of the distinguished Egyptian-Cypriot relations, stressing the interest attached by the political leadership and the Egyptian government, represented in the electricity and energy sector, to support the bonds of cooperation between the two countries.

He praised the efforts exerted to complete the necessary studies for the interconnection project, stressing that this historic project is of great importance to Egypt’s strategic plan in order to achieve economic development, and that this project is one of the projects that help connect Egypt to the European electrical network, and thus Egypt will be an important carrier of energy for the European continent. 

The minister stressed the interest of the Ministry of Electricity and Renewable Energy in electrical interconnection with neighboring countries, referring to the existing linkage with Jordan and Libya, as well as the link with Sudan.
 

“Work is currently underway to increase the capacity transferred between Egypt and Sudan from the current capacity of 80 megawatts to 300 megawatts, and the final steps of the linkage projects with Saudi Arabia are being completed,” he stated.

Shaker also stressed the interest that the electricity and renewable energy sector attaches to electrical interconnection projects, so that Egypt becomes a regional center for energy exchange with Europe and Arab and African countries.

He explained that the implementation of the linkage project enhances the partnership between the two countries as well as achieving advantages for the two countries, taking into account the recent developments in the electricity and energy sector and the increase in available capacities.
 

He stressed the interest in the speedy completion of the electrical linkage project between Egypt and Cyprus, from there to Greece and then to the rest of Europe.

For his part, Homer Mavrommatis, Ambassador of Cyprus in Cairo, praised the distinguished political relations between the two countries, stressing the need to support and strengthen these relations.

He stressed the Cypriot government's interest in the project of linking the two countries, as this project is of great importance in achieving economic and political benefits for the countries concerned.

This meeting comes as a confirmation of the vision of President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi, President of the Republic, and to activate the government’s policy that aims to consolidate Egypt’s role as a regional energy center in the Eastern Mediterranean, in light of our capabilities in this regard, and to strengthen the bonds of friendship between Egypt and Cyprus, within the framework of the interest that the electricity and renewable energy sector gives to electrical interconnection projects.