General Electric began maintenance works to raise the efficiency of Koraymat and North Giza power plants at a cost of $80m. The company is maintaining and raising the efficiency of two units in Korayman power plant at a total cost of $70m ($35m each), and is maintaining North Giza power plant at a cost of $10m, a source in the Ministry of Electricity said. The source added that General Electric's dues in the past six months reached $180m, as maintenance operations were conducted for the power production units in Mahmoudeya, Nubareya, and north Delta, as well as in other production units. He said also the company executed maintenance works varying between simple, regular, and significant categories. The kind of maintenance depends on the condition of the production unit and turbine. The maintenance is considered significant if it is conducted after the plants have operated for 36,000 hours; regular for 24,000 hours of operation; and simple for about 8,000 hours of operation. He pointed out that undergoing maintenance works for the electricity production units increase their efficiency and technical condition. They also renewed the oils, grease, pipes, turbine cables, and generating units. The source revealed that the examination of the units will start next week, so as to resume operations at full capacity later this month after the maintenance works. The ministry has developed a plan to implement replacement, renovation, and maintenance operations in the plants so as to save fuel and enhance their efficiency, instead of building new plants that cost the state huge amounts of money, according to the source. The latest technology entry to the plants and work system is underway, and operation systems will be converted to combined-cycle systems to reduce fuel consumption. The Ministry of Electricity has started to prepare a plan for the coming summer to increase the efficiency of power plants, add new electrical capacities, develop electric transmission grids, rationalise energy, and improve projects. The electrical transmission grid, which reaches 1,210km in length, has been developed with transformers and high voltage towers with investments worth EGP 12bn.
