The Ministry of Electricity has allocated $1.26 billion (EGP 22.5bn) for the maintenance of cables and developing electricity across the country within the next three years.
El Husseiny El Far, member of the affairs of electricity distribution companies department in the Egyptian Electricity Holding Company (EEHC), said that the strategy of the ministry in 2017 is focused on developing the electricity grid and establishing automated control centers, as well as installing smart meters.
The strategy also includes replacing the distribution panels and improving the performance of the main lines, replacing sub-lines, establishing new distributors and medium-voltage feeders, supporting the grids of cities and villages, maintenance of stalls, and changing cables and wires.
He explained that electricity distribution companies will obtain a loan from local banks worth EGP 19.4bn. About EGP 3.1bn will be collected from electricity distribution companies across the country.
El Far added that the development plan also includes automated control centers, monitoring the medium-voltage grid and operation data, as well as storing them and giving alerts when there is an increase in the current or a decreased voltage, in addition to discovering and analyzing any disruptions.
The plan also includes issuing technical reports of the grid and carrying out electric studies, as well as working as a training center for control engineers and activating the applied role of the geographical information system.
El Far explained that approvals were obtained to compensate the companies working on electric tasks after they make an official request to obtain a partial compensation for the losses they were exposed to after the decision of the Central Bank of Egypt (CBE) to float the pound.
Companies will be compensated by a percentage from 10-30% and will be provided through contracts signed before flotation.
El Far said that the EEHC has decided on this percentage after calculating the local and foreign component in all cases. The compensations will be provided at different times based on the decision of the boards of directors of electricity distribution companies.
Daily News Egypt
11 July
