Egypt–Saudi power interconnection to begin operations in coming weeks

Egypt’s Ministry of Electricity and Renewable Energy said the Egypt–Saudi power interconnection station will begin operations and be connected to the unified electricity grid of both countries in the coming weeks.

In a statement, the ministry said the interconnection station operates at 500 kV HVDC in Badr City, marking the first of its kind in the Middle East in terms of scale, manufacturing technology, operation and utilization on grid interconnection lines.

The project's current status was reviewed, including testing progress, the implementation schedule, commissioning timelines, and energization dates. This also included completing operational tests at the Badr transformer station, the Sakakin Taba 2 station and the 500 kV overhead transmission line (Badr/Taba 2), which extends approximately 320 km.

In addition, the review covered submarine and underground cables, installation works for equipment and medium- and low-voltage cables, AC/DC power supply works, operation of control panels and cable termination testing, control panel testing, drainage and water networks, optical fiber and other completion works in preparation for grid connection and commercial operation.

The ministry stated that the project aims to capitalize on differences in peak load timing between the two countries’ grids, thereby maximizing generation capacity utilization in Egypt and Saudi Arabia, reducing fuel consumption rates, and enabling more economical grid operation.

It noted that the project links the two largest electricity grids in the region and represents a nucleus for broader interconnection between Africa, Asia and Europe.

Egypt–Saudi electricity interconnection project has a capacity of 3,000 megawatts, comprising three high-voltage converter stations: East Madinah, Tabuk, and Badr City, east of Cairo, connected by overhead transmission lines extending around 1,350 km, in addition to submarine cables.