Sunday 22 Dec
Dr. Mahmoud Esmat, Minister of Electricity and Renewable Energy, identified key priorities for the current phase, aligning them with the overall strategy and developing clear, time-bound action plans to expedite the stabilization of the unified electrical network.
These priorities include: increasing
generating capacity to match the rising demand for electricity and the
continuous increase in loads; leveraging new and renewable energy sources; swiftly
completing a technical study to pinpoint optimal locations for new power
generation projects and their grid integration; and implementing energy storage
systems to optimize the utilization of renewable energy and mitigate peak load
demands.
These statements were made during
a meeting with the ministry and the Holding Company leadership, attended by
Deputy Minister Engineer Sabah Mashaly and Egyptian Electricity Holding Company
Chairman Engineer Gaber Desouki.
Dr. Esmat confirmed that several
challenges must be addressed, including enhancing operational efficiency,
decreasing fuel consumption, improving collection rates, implementing measures
to combat electricity theft, optimizing maintenance and monitoring systems to
reduce technical losses to standard levels, expediting the unrestricted
installation of smart meters as per the Cabinet's decision to safeguard
electricity funds.
He highlighted the network's
improved performance across all metrics, resulting in increased efficiency and
reduced electricity generation costs.
Emphasizing the criticality of
the Egypt-Saudi interconnection project, he called for concerted efforts, close
coordination with relevant stakeholders, and sustained engagement with Saudi
counterparts to complete the project and integrate both countries' grids before
next summer.
He also underscored the need for
a comprehensive study to determine optimal locations for new power stations to
be commissioned in the near future, assessing their impact on the grid and
connection points. He advocated for the deployment of energy storage systems to
optimize the performance of these stations and balance grid load, as well as
the exploration of innovative projects such as floating solar power and pumped
hydro storage at Mount Ataqa.
The Minister instructed that the primary focus in the upcoming phase be on reducing production costs and recovering lost electricity revenue by addressing theft and illegal connections. He mandated the immediate implementation of Cabinet directives to remove barriers to smart meter installation, starting with cases documented on the electricity and expansion platform. This system is crucial for combating electricity theft, collecting dues, and enhancing overall service quality within the electricity and renewable energy sector. He emphasized the importance of on-the-ground presence, rapid problem resolution, and improved customer experience as key performance indicators for this phase.
