Decade of development: Remarkable transformation in Egypt’s electricity sector

CAIRO - 27 September 2023: Egypt has witnessed a remarkable transformation in the electricity sector and has become a role model for many countries, as exceptional achievements have been made.

Egypt has enhanced the sector by the provision of electricity in a sustainable manner, after pumping investments exceeding 189 billion pounds to improve the infrastructure and increase generating capacity with the aim of keeping pace with the increasing demand for electricity in the country.

Efforts to develop the electricity sector in Egypt began in 2014, and major projects were launched to increase generating capacity and modernize existing infrastructure, until the increase in electricity production reached about 30 gigawatts in just 6 years, which is an unprecedented number.

This expansion contributed to increasing electrical capabilities to meet the growing energy needs and ensure the provision of electricity in a sustainable manner. The electrical capabilities added since 2014 included 31 electrical power production units in addition to the Benban Solar Energy Complex, which was completed with a total capacity of about 30 gigawatts, equivalent to 14 times that. The capacity of the High Dam, bringing the total generation capacity in the network to about 59 gigawatts from 75 generating units.

The Ministry of Electricity worked to significantly improve the electrical network, and the total investments in strengthening and modernizing the electricity transmission system since 2014 amounted to about 85 billion pounds to accommodate the added capacity from electricity generation projects, especially renewable energies.

Technical equipment was also modernized and advanced network control systems were applied, which contributed to improving response and stability. Thanks to these developments, the quality of electrical services was improved and power outages were reduced. 

The electricity sector succeeded in strengthening and developing electricity transmission networks to accommodate the large capacity that is being added from new and renewable sources of energy, and taking advantage of them. 

The total investments in current and future electricity distribution projects since 2014 amounted to about 190 billion pounds, with the total distribution panels reaching about 4,117 panels, and the total number of medium voltage distribution transformers reaching approximately 216,000 transformers with a total capacity of about 96,000 megavolt amperes, where 3,945 distribution transformers were installed. The total number of overhead lines and underground cables at medium and low voltage reached about 566 thousand kilometers, and during the period about 9.3 thousand kilometers were constructed.

Sustainability was enhanced in the electricity sector through the application of renewable energy technologies, as large projects were implemented to generate electricity from wind and solar energy, which contributed to diversifying generation sources and reducing Egypt’s dependence on fossil fuels. Large wind farms were built in Ras Gharib and West Nubariya, implementing a giant photovoltaic station in Benban.

The capacity of wind energy reached 1,630 megawatts, and the capacity of solar energy amounted to about 1,770 megawatts, as about 76 megawatts were added from the operation of a solar station with a photovoltaic system in Kom Ombo, with a capacity of 26 megawatts, and a solar station with a photovoltaic system in Zafarana, with a capacity of 50 megawatts.

Decade of development: Remarkable transformation in Egypt’s electricity sector 

By et staff

CAIRO - 27 September 2023: Egypt has witnessed a remarkable transformation in the electricity sector and has become a role model for many countries, as exceptional achievements have been made.

Egypt has enhanced the sector by the provision of electricity in a sustainable manner, after pumping investments exceeding 189 billion pounds to improve the infrastructure and increase generating capacity with the aim of keeping pace with the increasing demand for electricity in the country.

Efforts to develop the electricity sector in Egypt began in 2014, and major projects were launched to increase generating capacity and modernize existing infrastructure, until the increase in electricity production reached about 30 gigawatts in just 6 years, which is an unprecedented number.

This expansion contributed to increasing electrical capabilities to meet the growing energy needs and ensure the provision of electricity in a sustainable manner. The electrical capabilities added since 2014 included 31 electrical power production units in addition to the Benban Solar Energy Complex, which was completed with a total capacity of about 30 gigawatts, equivalent to 14 times that. The capacity of the High Dam, bringing the total generation capacity in the network to about 59 gigawatts from 75 generating units.

The Ministry of Electricity worked to significantly improve the electrical network, and the total investments in strengthening and modernizing the electricity transmission system since 2014 amounted to about 85 billion pounds to accommodate the added capacity from electricity generation projects, especially renewable energies.

Technical equipment was also modernized and advanced network control systems were applied, which contributed to improving response and stability. Thanks to these developments, the quality of electrical services was improved and power outages were reduced. 

The electricity sector succeeded in strengthening and developing electricity transmission networks to accommodate the large capacity that is being added from new and renewable sources of energy, and taking advantage of them. 

The total investments in current and future electricity distribution projects since 2014 amounted to about 190 billion pounds, with the total distribution panels reaching about 4,117 panels, and the total number of medium voltage distribution transformers reaching approximately 216,000 transformers with a total capacity of about 96,000 megavolt amperes, where 3,945 distribution transformers were installed. The total number of overhead lines and underground cables at medium and low voltage reached about 566 thousand kilometers, and during the period about 9.3 thousand kilometers were constructed.

Sustainability was enhanced in the electricity sector through the application of renewable energy technologies, as large projects were implemented to generate electricity from wind and solar energy, which contributed to diversifying generation sources and reducing Egypt’s dependence on fossil fuels. Large wind farms were built in Ras Gharib and West Nubariya, implementing a giant photovoltaic station in Benban.

The capacity of wind energy reached 1,630 megawatts, and the capacity of solar energy amounted to about 1,770 megawatts, as about 76 megawatts were added from the operation of a solar station with a photovoltaic system in Kom Ombo, with a capacity of 26 megawatts, and a solar station with a photovoltaic system in Zafarana, with a capacity of 50 megawatts.