Egypt's Electricity Minister Mahmoud Esmat made an unannounced inspection Tuesday to a key Egypt–Saudi power link site, signalling Cairo's push to speed up work on what's set to become the Arab world's most ambitious cross-border energy project. The minister toured the towering 205-metre pylons under construction near the Suez Canal, designed to carry overhead high-voltage lines as part of a $1.8 billion, 3-gigawatt power exchange system connecting the two countries' national grids. The project also includes three converter stations in Cairo, Tabuk, and Medina, and stretches across 1,350 kilometres of overhead and undersea cables. "This is a critical milestone in our strategy to stabilise the grid, improve efficiency, and deepen regional energy integration," Minister Esmat said during the visit, emphasising Egypt's commitment to completing the project on schedule. The interconnection is designed to capitalise on differences in peak demand times between the two countries, allowing for more efficient electricity use and reduced fuel consumption. It also lays the groundwork for a broader Arab power corridor. Minister Esmat reviewed construction timelines, safety protocols, and coordination efforts with aviation, petroleum, and canal authorities. He called for increasing labour deployment to stay on track and reiterated support for continued field visits to monitor execution. The Egypt–Saudi link, spearheaded by a global consortium of three firms, is viewed as a cornerstone of Cairo's long-term energy strategy, which includes boosting renewable capacity, cutting reliance on fossil fuels, and transforming Egypt into a regional energy hub. Attribution: Amwal Al Ghad English
