Saudi Arabia and Egypt will connect their electricity grids after the two countries signed deals on 5 October worth $1.8bn for the construction of a 500kV high voltage direct current (HVDC) line, linking a converter station at Badr, northeast of Cairo with ones at Tabuk and Medina in Saudi Arabia.
The link will have an overall capacity of 3GW and includes the construction of approximately 1,350km of overhead transmission cables and 22km of subsea cables in the Gulf of Aqaba. Japan’s Hitachi ABB Power Grids will partner private Egyptian construction firm Orascom on the Egyptian side and Saudi Services for Electro-Mechanic (SSEM) on the Saudi side. (CONTINUED - 1426 WORDS)
