Khartoum, April 24, 2018 - Technical meetings between Egypt's Ministry of Electricity and Renewable Energy and Sudan's Water Resources, Irrigation and Electricity Ministry began on Tuesday to discuss preparations for implementing the 220volt electricity grid interconnection between the two countries. Osama Asran, the Deputy Minister of Electricity who led the Egyptian delegation, highlighted the importance of the electricity grid interconnection between Egypt and Sudan in the light of the increasing demand on energy. Asran emphasised the importance of continued improvement of the electricity system through increasing the efficiency of its distribution and use in all its forms, because of its cost compared to other energy generating systems, for achieving sustainable development. Asran confirmed that there was continuous exchange of expertise between the two countries in managing the electricity sector, legislation and laws that encourage more investment in the sector, especially in the field of renewable energy. Sudan's Deputy Minister of Water Resources, Irrigation and Electricity Musa Al- Qasim confirmed that studies were being undertaken on the technical aspects of the route of the transmission line between the two countries. He said the interconnection was due to be completed within four months. He pointed out that the electric interconnection would contribute to stabilising networks and opening up the prospects for joint investment especially in renewable energy. In another development, The Ministry of Investment and International Co-operation and the Arab Fund for Economic and Social Development (AFESD) signed an agreement yesterday to develop the electricity transmission network at a cost of 60 million Kuwaiti dinars ($200m). The agreement was signed by Investment Minister Sahar Nasr and the AFESD Chairman Abdelatif Yousef Al-Hamad. Nasr highlighted the ministry's keenness on providing the necessary funding to support the electricity sector to meet the needs of citizens in areas with increased electrical loads. Al-Hamad said that the agreement was part of the AFESD's continued financing of development projects in Egypt. He said that the AFESD's current portfolio in Egypt stood at 1.5 billion Kuwaiti dinars ($5 billion), which had been invested in projects in many fields such as electricity, industry, sanitation, education, health, transport, tourism, natural gas, agriculture and irrigation.
