Egypt’s power-link project with Saudi Arabia is nearing completion, with the first phase expected online by late 2025 or early 2026, according to Asharq Business.
Egypt has finished 95 percent of the $1.8 billion interconnection, including 862 transmission towers and 330 km of extra-high-voltage lines within Egypt, Asharq Business reported, citing an Egyptian government official. Final testing is underway ahead of launch, the outlet added.
The link uses a ±500 kV, 3,000 MW HVDC system across the northern Gulf of Aqaba, according to ASSO Group. The route includes 23 km of submarine cables and about 1,300 km of land cables, connecting Cairo’s Badr Substation to Madinah East in Saudi Arabia, with a tap at Tabuk, ASSO Group stated.
The project began in 2012 with an estimated cost of nearly $1.8 billion, according to Asharq Business. In February, Asharq Business reported that His Excellency Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly said the first phase would start with 1,500 MW, with a second phase to lift total transfer capacity to nearly 3,000 MW.
AtkinsRéalis is providing Project Management Office and engineering design review services. Hitachi Energy is executing the project with local partners.
Once fully operational, the interconnection is expected to boost grid reliability and enable sizable cross-border power flows between Egypt and Saudi Arabia.
