Within weeks, the electrical interconnection between Egypt and Saudi Arabia will be operational with a capacity of 3,000 megawatts

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Mahmoud Esmat, Minister of Electricity and Renewable Energy, discussed with Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman, Saudi Minister of Energy, Industry and Mineral Resources, aspects of cooperation and partnership in various fields of electricity, and opening new horizons in the fields of renewable energies between the two countries.

The two ministers also discussed - on the sidelines of the meetings of the Arab Ministerial Council for Electricity and the International Energy Forum - the latest developments and preparations for the inauguration and start of operation of the Egyptian-Saudi electrical interconnection line in the coming weeks, following the completion of the trial operation phase of the second phase, thus completing the interconnection project between the two countries with a capacity of 3,000 megawatts.

The meeting discussed the latest developments in the electrical interconnection project between the two countries' networks, and the actual reality of the completion of the trial operation phase of the second phase, with a capacity of 1,500 megawatts, which is being worked on by the concerned crews in the two countries.

All the ongoing steps and preparations for the launch of the giant hub project, which is one of the largest infrastructure projects for energy exchange in the Middle East and the nucleus of a comprehensive Arab electrical interconnection, were reviewed.

The two sides agreed to announce the completion of the trial operation phase of the second phase and to jointly announce the inauguration and start of operation, with the aim of joint energy exchange within the framework of benefiting from the difference in peak times and increased loads in the two countries, as well as maximizing returns, properly managing and using the electrical surplus, and increasing the stability and sustainability of the electrical network in Egypt and Saudi Arabia.

The meeting also included discussions on the importance of opening new horizons and increasing private investments in new and renewable energy projects and joint efforts to invest in solar and wind energy projects, within the framework of the two countries’ policy and action plans aimed at achieving sustainable development goals, and supporting cooperation in this field.

Mechanisms for transferring and exchanging technical expertise and modern technologies in the fields of electricity generation, transmission and distribution were also discussed, and in this context, agreement was reached on a number of cooperation proposals to support and facilitate the implementation of the joint approach and economic operation to achieve the common benefit of the two countries.

It is worth noting that the electrical interconnection project between Egypt and Saudi Arabia includes the exchange of capacities of up to 3,000 megawatts due to the difference in peak times between the two countries. It consists of 3 huge high-voltage transformer stations, the first in the east of the city in Saudi Arabia, the second in Tabuk, and the third in Badr City, east of Cairo. They are linked by overhead lines with a length of about 1,350 kilometers and other marine cables. A coalition of 3 international companies worked on implementing the project.