CAIRO, April 27 (MENA) - President Abdel Fattah El Sisi has issued strict directives to find decisive solutions to halt power load shedding during the summer, Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouli said.

Madbouly chaired a meeting Sunday with Minister of Electricity and Renewable Energy Mahmoud Essmat to review the ongoing plans for handling the rising electricity loads and increased demand during the summer months.

The meeting also covered several other topics, including the current status of Egypt’s electricity interconnection projects with Saudi Arabia, Greece, and Italy.

Madbouli highlighted the government's intensive efforts to enhance investment opportunities in the energy sector, ensure the sustainability of electricity supplies for the national grid, industrial sectors, and service sectors, and accelerate work on ongoing renewable energy projects aimed at diversifying energy supply sources and adding new capacities to the electricity grid.

Essmat said his ministry is holding regular meetings with the Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral Resources to coordinate efforts regarding the availability of petroleum products for the electricity sector.

He also outlined ongoing efforts to stabilize electricity supply during the summer, including continuous monitoring of electricity companies' preparations for maintenance programs and timelines for adding new capacities, with additional steps studied to strengthen the unified grid to accommodate new capacities.

Regarding interconnection projects, Essmat highlighted significant progress in the electricity link with Italy, which has received approval to connect to the internal network. “Discussions are ongoing to expedite the interconnection project between the two countries and increase the participation of Italian companies in sector projects, particularly in renewable energy, to maximize the benefits of clean energy.”

The minister also updated the premier on progress in the electricity interconnection with Greece, emphasizing the project's importance for sustainable development and its role in Egypt’s broader strategy to connect its grid with neighboring countries. “The goal is to link to the European grid, positioning Egypt as a regional energy exchange hub.”

Essmat reviewed the status of the Egyptian-Saudi electricity interconnection operations, noting that this project connects the two largest grids in the region and lays the groundwork for future Arab interconnection. This will enhance the stability and reliability of electricity supply between the two countries, with significant economic and developmental benefits, he made it clear. (MENA)

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