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Power Linkage Project of Egypt, Saudi Arabia to be Accomplished Soon | ASHARQ AL-AWSAT English Archive 2005 -2017
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ATOMEXPO 2016.. A cross section of African and other participants at the plenary session of the Expo


Power Linkage Project of Egypt, Saudi Arabia to be Accomplished Soon

by | Jun 7, 2016 | Business |

Power Linkage Project of Egypt, Saudi Arabia to be Accomplished Soon

Moscow-The Egyptian-Saudi electricity linkage project will be finalized in few months, thus enabling the two countries to share electric power of up to 3,000 megawatts (MW) during the off-peak hours of the exporting country, according to Egyptian official close to the matter.

He noted that his country’s government has signed agreements with Russia to establish four nuclear stations that will cost up to $16 billion and will operate the first one in 2024.

First Deputy Minister of Electricity and Mineral Resources Dr. Hassan Mahmoud Hassanein told Asharq Al-Awsat that the Saudi-Egyptian coordinating council plays a major role in boosting strategic cooperation between the two countries as the Saudi party is planning to found nuclear plants to generate electricity; thus, opening up wide chances for bilateral cooperation to achieve sustainable development and prosperous economy.

He added that relations between the two countries put the Saudi vision as a meeting point for partnerships in all fields in light of great progress made in the electricity linkage project between Cairo and Riyadh, which is providing strategic investments and economic returns.

Hassanein added on the sidelines of the International Forum of “AtomExpo 2016,” which finally concluded in Moscow, “We have made progress in talks with Russia, and we have signed a number of agreements in 2015, the latest was in November, including two agreements to cooperate in order to establish and operate nuclear stations.”

“The Russian company for nuclear power, ‘Rosatom,’ will establish four nuclear plants in Dabaa in coordination with 50 Egyptian companies as the project provides 3,500 job opportunities.”

He also said that Egypt will sign a memorandum of understanding with Jordan soon to cooperate in the field of nuclear power and uses. He said that an Egyptian delegation will visit U.A.E. to benefit from its experience regarding nuclear control and management of the nuclear station project, in addition to their visit to the nuclear station in the Gulf country.

Hassanein confirmed that his country is aiming to cooperate with Saudi Arabia in the same framework, especially after the progress in talks tackling nuclear power.