The government plans to invite international bids for the establishment of an Egyptian-Saudi power grid link in February, Egyptian Electricity Minister Hassan Younis has said. In statements to the press, Younis said the marine company assigned with the task of surveying the sea route for the grid has already completed its work in the Gulf of Aqaba. The company will present a preliminary report on the results of its survey in mid-January to help put together specifications for a marine cable to link the two countries. Determining specifications for the marine cable is the final step before the government can invite bids for the project. A source from the Ministry of Electricity and Energy said the project will include a 1300km-long aerial cable, of which 450km will extend across Egyptian land and 850km across Saudi land. Each country will carry the costs of construction on its own territory. Twenty kilometers of the cable will be underwater and paid for by both countries. Translated from the Arabic Edition.
