Egypt–Saudi Arabia electrical interconnection project
The $1.8 B project is the first large-scale high-voltage direct current (HVDC) interconnection in the MENA region.
Image for illustration purposes.
Egypt, Cairo: The $1.8 B project is the first large-scale high-voltage direct current (HVDC) interconnection in the MENA region.
The Egypt–Saudi Arabia electrical interconnection project, estimated at $1.8 B, will undergo testing ahead of its trial operation scheduled for 2024.
The project is the first large-scale high-voltage direct current (HVDC) interconnection in the MENA (Middle East and North Africa) region. It includes the construction of two high-voltage substations in Saudi Arabia’s regions of Medina and Tabuk, along with “Badr” station situated on the outskirts of Cairo, Egypt’s capital. For seamless connectivity, the three substations will be connected by 1,350 km-long overhead power transmission lines and 22 km of undersea cables across the Gulf of Aqaba.
The contract, awarded to the consortium of Hitachi ABB Power Grids from Japan and Saudi Services for Electro Mechanic Works (SSEM) in 2021, covers the implementation of 3 transformer stations in Saudi Arabia and Egypt.
The project will be fully launched in two phases. The initial phase will have the capacity of 1500 MW and will commence in June 2025, reported Asharq Business. The second phase will follow in November 2025, and will also have the capacity of 1500 MW.
Egypt currently generates 58,000 MW of electricity daily, while its daily electricity consumption is 33,000 MW. The country hopes to trade its surplus power via the electrical interconnection.
Source: Utilities ME
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