Egypt attaches great importance to strengthening co-operation with African countries in electricity and energy as per directives from President Abdel Fattah El Sisi.
The Egyptian government is implementing electricity interconnectivity projects in Burundi, Congo, Djibouti, Eritrea, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Tanzania and Uganda.
Egypt for sustainable development in Africa
Development in Africa is possible through stability and an integrated infrastructure linking all regions of the African continent, which, in turn, can bring about economic integration, the president said.
Egypt enjoys historical relations with African states and such development projects would help achieve the interests of African peoples. Electricity projects implemented in Africa cost more than $3 billion.
Projects in Burundi
A transformer maintenance workshop was established in Burundi for LE10 million, Minister of Electricity Mohamed Shaker said
In February 2021, the workshop was handed over to the Burundian Electricity Company and its technicians and workers were given suitable training, the minister added.
Shaker said that a number of power projects are also under study and preparation for electrical interconnection with African countries.
In Congo, Djibouti, Eritrea
They include the electrical linkage project with the Democratic Republic of Congo (Inga-Aswan) and the continental electrical linkage project according to a memorandum of understanding with the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD) Agency, which will be carried out on three phases, including electricity transmission and production.
Shaker referred to the building of a 250-megawatt solar plant costing $1.3 million, a 300-kilowatt solar plant, $1.498 million, and the supply and installation of 61 solar-powered submersible pumps for water wells, worth $1.4 million in Djibouti.
Of the many power projects being implemented in Eritrea are two solar energy plants connected to the electric grid, costing $10.4 million.
Power connection with Sudan
Raising the capacity of the electrical connection between Egypt and Sudan from 80 megawatts to 240-300 megawatts will cost LE452 million, the Ministry of Electricity and Renewable Energy said in a statement, detailing power and energy projects both completed and underway in the African continent.
The Ministry of Electricity is looking into a $4.5 million 2-megawatt solar plant in Somalia and the installation of diesel units costing LE1.5 million.
The Egyptian Electricity Transmission Company and Siemens Energy Company signed a contract in March 2021 to raise the capacity of the existing connection between Egypt and Sudan.
The project included the supply and installation of two effective compensator units (STATECOM), the minister said.
“This is in addition to consultancy work for approving the studies and designs for the project at a cost of $289,000,” the minister added.
Financed by the General Office of the Ministry of Electricity and Renewable Energy, the project should be completed in 18 months.
Meanwhile, Shaker said the Egyptian-Sudanese dual circuit electrical interconnection was finished at a cost of LE498 million.
The maximum capacity to be exported to Sudanese side is 84 megawatts.
Rambio-Rumbek power stations in S. Sudan
Preparations are underway for the Rambio-Rumbek stations in South Sudan, which will cost LE70 million, as well as operating and maintenance costs of LE15 million in the first year for the two stations.
The ministry has also contributed to preparing technical and economic feasibility studies of the multi-purpose Wau Dam project in South Sudan
Nyerere Dam in Tanzania
The Egyptian consortium of Arab Contractors and al-Sweidy Contractors is working on the Nyerere Dam in Tanzania to generate 2,115 megawatts of hydroelectric power at a cost of $2.9 billion, the minister of electricity said.
The Nyerere project reflects Egypt’s interest in developing the Tanzanian economy since the dam will provide energy, control the flooding of the Rufiji River and conserve the environment. Construction began in the third quarter of 2019 and is scheduled to be completed by 2022.
Tanzanian Minister of Energy Midard Kalimani said co-operation between Tanzania and Egypt was progressing well and voiced hope that it will continue in the future.
In Uganda, a $6 million solar energy facility is being established with the help of the Egyptian Ministry of Electricity.
PIDA projects
In the meantime, projects submitted to the Programme for Infrastructure Development in Africa (PIDA) is a continent-wide programme for the development of priority regional and continental infrastructure in transport, energy, trans-boundary water and communications and information technology (CIT).
PIDA includes electrical interconnection between Egypt and Libya with a capacity of 1,000 megawatts, in preparation for electrical connection with North African countries.
The Egyptian-Sudanese electrical interconnection with a capacity of 2,000 megawatts using 500 kV DC transmission lines will be the first phase of the Continental Electricity Interconnection Project from Cairo to Cape Town.
Training courses
The Egyptian electricity sector offers training courses for all involved with projects in the Nile Basin countries thanks to a grant provided through the co-operation project with the African countries.
He added that during Egypt’s presidency of the African Union in 2019, the provision of training courses was expanded to include other countries such as Angola and Guinea.
Since 2003, 8,335 trainees from African countries attended the training courses.
Preparations are underway to resume training courses while precautionary measures to confront the coronavirus pandemic are in place.
The Ministry of Electricity will provide 216 training grants totalling LE13 million to Nile Basin countries and the Horn of Africa during fiscal year 2021-2022.
The electricity and renewable energy sector gives utmost importance to the electrical interconnection projects so that Egypt becomes a regional hub for energy exchange with Europe, Arab and African countries, Shaker said.
