Saudi-Egypt power network in 'final' stages, says official

Saudi-Egypt power grid link has reached an advanced stage, Saudi Press Agency reported, citing Abdullah Al-Shehri, Governor of the Electricity and Cogeneration Regulatory Authority (ECRA).

“I hope we can develop a power interconnection project with Jordan and the other Arab countries to be able to provide electricity at reasonable rates,” Al-Shehri said on the sidelines of an energy forum in Cairo.

Saudi Arabia accounts for 40 percent of power capacity in all Arab countries, since the Kingdom gave up the vertically-integrated electric model and moved on to create a more competitive power market through a series of physical and regulatory changes.

In 2013, Egypt and Saudi Arabia agreed to establish the SAR 6 billion power project, with each country paying for the cost of the infrastructure in its respective side.

The project includes building two HVDC 500 kilo volt (kV) converter stations with power transformers and associated electrical equipment in Tabuk in Saudi Arabia and Northern Cairo.

The project would allow for the electric capacity exchange of more than 3,000 megawatts (MW) during peak hours.