Egypt eliminates power outages, exports the surplus

CAIRO - 27 December 2021: Egypt’s electricity sector succeeded in transforming the electrical capacity deficit from 6,000 megawatts in 2014 to a surplus of 13,000 megawatts in 2020, after adding about 28,000 megawatts of electrical capacity, equivalent to 13 times the capacity of the High Dam.

As a result, Egypt advanced 44 places in the electricity supply quality index in the Global Competitiveness Report in 2019.

The book "Vision and Achievement.. Egypt Takes Off", issued by the Cabinet documenting the achievements of the Egyptian state during the past seven years, indicated that 48 projects were implemented to produce electricity from traditional sources at a cost of $271 billion, the most prominent of which are 3 stations in the New Administrative Capital, Beni Suef and Burullus, with a capacity of 14.4 thousand megawatts.

The Ministry of Electricity has also paid great attention to projects to produce electricity from renewable sources, and the number of projects that have been and are being implemented is 17 projects at a cost of LE 51.8 billion to add 5,303 megawatts of renewable energy (wind/solar energy/hydro energy). Among the most important projects are electricity production plants from winds in Gabal el-Zayt at a cost of LE 9.8 billion, the Benban solar energy production complex with a total investment of LE 35.2 billion, and a hydroelectric power plant at Assiut Barrages at a cost of LE 1.7 billion.

To ensure the stability and continuity of electricity supply, a comprehensive plan has been drawn up to develop electricity transmission and distribution networks through 375 electricity transmission projects that have been and are being implemented with investments of approximately LE 70.7 billion pounds, and electricity distribution projects at an investment cost of LE 41.8 billion pounds.

As part of Egypt’s plan to transform into a regional energy center through cooperation with neighboring countries, a contract was signed for the Julius Nyerere hydroelectric power plant and dam project in Tanzania at a cost of $2.9 billion and is being implemented by the Egyptian consortium consisting of the Arab Contractors and El Sewedy Electric. 

Egypt is also carrying out electrical connection projects with neighboring countries, including Sudan, Libya, Jordan and Saudi Arabia, and is studying projects to connect with Cyprus and Greece.