The Egyptian Electricity Transmission Company (EETC) is preparing to receive newly established electricity pylons that will link the Balat substation with Sharq El Owainat in the New Valley governorate next month. El Sewedy Electric, High Dam Electrical and Industrial Projects (HIDELECO), and Misr For Mechanical and Electrical Projects (Kahromika) are implementing a 400-km-long overhead transmission line between the Balat plant and Sharq El Owainat at a cost of EGP 1.3bn, said a company source. The implementation rate has reached 85%.
The project provides an additional source of electricity from the national grid, as Sharq El Owainat relies on electricity supply transmitted from the national grid in Aswan, the source added, while other towns in the New Valley receive their electricity from the national grid in Naga Hammadi.
In case of breakdowns at the Naga Hammadi station, Sharq El Owainat would receive electricity from Aswan through the new transmission line, which include 1,200 electricity pylons at 220kv. Sources in the electricity sector said that the alternative transmission line aims to support development and investment efforts in the New Valley's oases through linking them with Sharq El Owainat line, which was built in the era of former President Hosny Mubarak at a cost of about EGP 2bn to provide electricity to all companies and investment projects in Sharq El Owainat. The project is part of the ministry of electricity's efforts to consolidate and expand electrical networks in order to absorb the added capacities. The ministry has begun to gradually transform the national grid into a smart one using modern technologies and information systems, so that it can deal with all types of plants, substantially improve energy efficiency, and reduce emissions.
