Saudi-Egypt Electricity Interconnection Project Expected to Commence Official Operation in Coming Weeks

According to a cabinet statement by Egyptian Minister of Electricity and Renewable Energy, Mahmoud Esmat, the Saudi-Egypt electricity interconnection project is undergoing trial operation and is expected to be put into operation "in the coming weeks."

Esmat pointed out: "The project aims to enhance grid stability, improve service quality, expand the use of renewable energy, and reduce fuel consumption." This Saudi-Egypt electricity interconnection project enables power exchange through three high-voltage converter stations—two located in the eastern and northwestern parts of Saudi Arabia, and one in the city of Badr east of Cairo—with a total transmission capacity of up to 3,000 megawatts.

The project utilizes 1,350 kilometers of overhead transmission lines and subsea cables crossing the Red Sea for connection. Esmat described it as an "energy bridge," emphasizing that it will promote strategic cooperation and economic integration. The Saudi-Egypt electricity interconnection project leverages the time difference in peak demand between the two countries to optimize the use of generation capacity, enabling more economical and efficient grid operation.

In October 2022, Saudi Electricity Company secured a $566 million export credit agency-backed Islamic financing arrangement to support the project. As the first large-scale high-voltage direct current interconnection project in the Middle East and North Africa region, the Saudi-Egypt electricity interconnection project marks a significant advancement in regional energy cooperation.