The Japanese consulting firm Tokyo Electric Power Services Company (TEPSCO) is preparing to launch a global tender to implement a project to reduce energy loss and improve the performance of the electrical network and control centres in three electricity distribution companies. Ministry of Electricity sources told Daily News Egypt that the Japanese company is about to complete the specifications and criteria of the tender to be presented to international companies, including replacing and renewing networks, installing smart electricity metres and establishing 11 control centres for the North Cairo, Alexandria, and North Delta electricity distribution companies. The sources added that the consulting office has integrated standard specifications for transformers, reducing thefts through smart metres, improving imbalances in low pressure lines, and communication systems. The project will be financed the Japanese International Cooperation Agency (JICA). The payment period is 30 years with a 10-year grace period and an interest rate of 0.01% for services and 0.03% for supplies. Sources noted that parliament approved the loan agreement. The functions of the automated control centres include the continuous monitoring of the medium voltage network, addition and modification of any network-related data, monitoring and storage of the operating data, and sequential recording of events and the giving of warnings when an increase in current or decrease in voltage is detected, next to analysing errors. It also includes the issuance of various technical reports on the network and preparing applied electrical studies, in addition to working as a training centre for control engineers, activating the applied role of geographic information systems, and signing off on electronic survey maps. The sources added that the control centres and communication systems at the North Cairo Electricity Distribution Company will include the installation of 44 distributors, about 56 distributors at the Alexandria Electricity Distribution Company, and 42 distributors at the North Delta Electricity Distribution Company. After the completion of installing the control centre and the smart metres communication system, about 965,000 metres will be installed across the three companies, including 490,000 metres for North Cairo, 300,000 for Alexandria, and 175,000 for North Delta. According to the sources, the projects were divided in North Cairo to include the networks of Helmiya, Al-Mataria, Al-Marg, and Al-Khanka, along with in western Alexandria, and for the North Delta Company in Damietta and North Dakahlia.
