Egypt and Saudi Arabia set to launch $1.8 billion electrical interconnection project
The Egypt–Saudi Arabia electrical interconnection project valued at $1.8 billion is set to undergo testing next month ahead of its trial operation scheduled for next year.
The project is the first large-scale high-voltage direct current (HVDC) interconnection in the MENA region, including three substations connected via overhead power transmission lines of 1,350 kilometers (km) in length and submarine cables of 22 km.
A consortium of Japan’s Hitachi ABB Power Grids and Saudi Services for Electro Mechanic Works (SSEM) was awarded a contract in 2021 to implement 3 transformer stations in Saudi Arabia and Egypt.
The project will be fully launched in two phases with the initial phase at a capacity of 1,500 megawatts (MW) commencing in June 2025, reported Asharq Business.