Egypt, Mitsubishi expand cooperation to upgrade two power plants

Ahram Online , Tuesday 31 Oct 2023

Egypt has signed an agreement with the Japanese Mitsubishi Power Company to develop the Sidi Krir and El-Atf power plants, according to a statement by the company on Tuesday.

El Atf thermal power plant. Mitsubishi Power website.
El Atf thermal power plant. Mitsubishi Power website.

 

This agreement comes as part of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA)-financed agreement, which was inked in July 2021.

The signing ceremony was attended by Mohamed Shaker, Minister of Electricity and Renewable Energy, Javier Cavada, CEO of Europe, Middle East, and Africa at Mitsubishi Power, and several notable figures and institutions.

The agreement will extend the lifespan of the power plants, improve power supply stability, and support the country's transition to renewable energy.

"The Sidi Krir and El-Atf plants power hundreds of thousands of homes and businesses in the western Alexandria and middle Delta regions via the reliable Egyptian unified electrical grid," the statement highlighted.

The implementation of the agreement will result in a notable increase in the efficiency of the gas turbines, with an average improvement of 2.5 percent, and a 6 percent increase in power generation capacity.

Egypt's collaboration with Mitsubishi is aimed at enhancing power generation and efficiency to meet the country's growing electricity demands, Shaker said.

The minister also expressed the government's keenness to strengthen cooperation with Japan, particularly in decarbonization and green hydrogen infrastructure projects.

For his part, Cavada emphasized Mitsubishi's commitment to working alongside the Egyptian government to support the country's energy sector.

Cavada stated that the agreement is a testament to Mitsubishi's industry-leading technology, mobilized to provide power for the people of Egypt.

The Sidi Krir and El-Atf power plants were first launched by Mitsubishi Power in 2009, and have been operating efficiently since then, confirmed JICA's Chief Representative Omura Yoshifumi.

These advancements contribute to the electricity sector's Rehabilitation and Improvement Project, which is supported by JICA with a substantial investment of approximately $400 million.

The project encompasses various upgrades to the power plants, including enhancing output, improving power generation efficiency, and reducing facility downtime.

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