After months of coordination and joint efforts between Schneider Electric Egypt and the Ministry of Electricity and Renewable Energy, witnesses the inauguration of the first smart distribution control centre for electricity and energy in New Cairo, developed by Schneider Electric for the North Cairo Electricity Distribution Company.
This project comes within the national framework plan to develop and digitise the electricity distribution grid to be the first of its kind in the Middle East. Schneider Electric is responsible for establishing and developing 14 distribution control centres across the country, all supported by the advanced distribution management system (ADMS) that monitors, controls, and reconfigures the network based on data inputs.
Schneider Electric is working on establishing technologically advanced distribution control centres that will improve energy utilisation, efficiency and reduce breakdowns, thereby enhancing the quality of service. The project will be implemented in three phases and is scheduled for completion in 30 months.
The first phase includes the development of 4 control centres in the north and south of Cairo within 18 months, at a cost of LE4.6 billion. Serving nearly 10 million citizens, this phase includes two control centres in Nasr City and New Cairo for North Cairo Electricity Distribution Company, and two control centres in Dokki and 6th of October for South Cairo Distribution Company.
The second and third phases are each comprised of 5 control centers distributed in the north and south of Cairo, across a number of governorates: Alexandria, Delta, Sharm El Sheikh, Hurghada, Al-Minya and Ismailia. More than 12,000 smart ring main units will be installed in ten governorates, which represents a technical breakthrough to improve the electricity distribution network in Egypt.
Dr. Mohamed Shaker, Minister of Electricity and Renewable Energy, said: “The government made great efforts to overcome the electricity crisis and was able to take countless measures and reforms concerning the sector, which led to the elimination of power outages and the achievement of a safe reserve.”
Shaker added “Raising the efficiency of distribution networks during the past four years cost 36 billion Egyptian pounds, during which 5098 electricity booths and 12,351 medium voltage cables were added. This is an indication that work is underway to develop and improve the electrical network, as 11 million smart meters have been installed so far at a national level, noting that 47 control centers will be established across the country during the next year and a half.”
“We are pleased with the Egyptian government’s interest in utilising the latest technology in developing distribution networks and establishing new control centres, to improve the overall quality of the national electricity grid and the services provided,” said Caspar Herzberg, President of Schneider Electric Middle East & Africa.
“We are proud to be working closely with the Egyptian government and investing in national projects such as the development of the national electricity grid,” explained Engineer Walid Sheta, Regional Cluster President of Egypt, North East Africa, and Levant at Schneider Electric.
“We, at Schneider Electric, are keen on supporting the country’s economic growth, utilizing Egyptian talent, and relying on the robust industry to locally produce our components,” adds Eng. Sheta.
“One of the things to be proud of is that up to 70% of the components used in the development of the control centers will be manufactured in Egypt,” said Engineer Mohamed El-Setouhy, Project Manager of the 14 Control Centers & Export Sales Director Egypt and North East Africa at Schneider Electric.
“We are also proud of the EcoStruxure Grid’s technology and efficiency in optimizing energy use. The new grid will serve as the backbone of the energy and power networks in Egypt for the coming decades. The project also paves the way for the country’s future requirements in the field of electricity and will accelerate the process of adopting renewable energy solutions,” adds Eng. El-Setouhy.
It is worth mentioning that last year, Schneider Electric Egypt won the tender set by the Ministry of Electricity and Renewable Energy to develop the electricity distribution network and control centers. The project will create job opportunities for more than 3,000 workers in the fields of supply and contracting.
