Egyptian Govt. Supports Projects in ‘New Capital’ Despite COVID-19

Construction machines and laborers work at the site of the future Iconic Tower skyscraper in the New Administrative Capital (NAC) east of Cairo, Egypt. (Reuters)
Construction machines and laborers work at the site of the future Iconic Tower skyscraper in the New Administrative Capital (NAC) east of Cairo, Egypt. (Reuters)
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Egyptian Govt. Supports Projects in ‘New Capital’ Despite COVID-19

Construction machines and laborers work at the site of the future Iconic Tower skyscraper in the New Administrative Capital (NAC) east of Cairo, Egypt. (Reuters)
Construction machines and laborers work at the site of the future Iconic Tower skyscraper in the New Administrative Capital (NAC) east of Cairo, Egypt. (Reuters)

The Egyptian government supports the technological and telecommunications projects at the New Administrative Capital (NAC) east of Cairo, despite the spread of COVID-19.

Egyptian officials visited a number of projects and sites in the new capital to follow up on developments as part of the government’s plan to “coexist with the coronavirus” and resume activities.

The Health Ministry recorded 1,677 new coronavirus cases Sunday, bringing the total number of confirmed cases since the outbreak to 42,980, with 62 deaths and 421 discharged from isolation hospitals after receiving necessary medical care.

Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly said that construction can be completed, however, the main challenge is training employees and transfer all facilities to the new capital.

He stressed that the government transfer to the New Administrative Capital must be accompanied by the implementation of full automation of all communications between the authorities. He said all government documents and data will be electronically archived and digitized.

In April, President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi postponed the launch of mega-projects, including the Grand Egyptian Museum and moving civil servants to the NAC to 2021 from 2020, due to the coronavirus outbreak

Cabinet spokesperson Nader Saad said the prime minister held a meeting to discuss developing the digital capabilities of public employees, with the aim of enhancing state performance and supporting government mechanisms.

The meeting also addressed issues of transparency and corruption, calling for increasing the efficiency and effectiveness of government institutions which will improve the quality of services provided to citizens.

In addition, Tourism Minister Khaled al-Anani toured the museum of the new capital to inspect recent work in preparation for its imminent opening.



Sisi: Electricity Interconnection Projects with Saudi Arabia a Model for Regional Cooperation

Sisi met with Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly, Minister of Electricity and Renewable Energy Mahmoud Esmat, and Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources Karim Badawy. (Egyptian Presidency)
Sisi met with Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly, Minister of Electricity and Renewable Energy Mahmoud Esmat, and Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources Karim Badawy. (Egyptian Presidency)
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Sisi: Electricity Interconnection Projects with Saudi Arabia a Model for Regional Cooperation

Sisi met with Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly, Minister of Electricity and Renewable Energy Mahmoud Esmat, and Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources Karim Badawy. (Egyptian Presidency)
Sisi met with Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly, Minister of Electricity and Renewable Energy Mahmoud Esmat, and Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources Karim Badawy. (Egyptian Presidency)

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi affirmed that the electrical interconnection project with Saudi Arabia represents a model of regional energy cooperation and a benchmark for future similar ventures in electrical connectivity, directing close monitoring of all project details.
Sisi made these remarks during a meeting with Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly, Minister of Electricity and Renewable Energy Mahmoud Esmat, and Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources Karim Badawy.
According to a statement by the Egyptian presidency on Sunday, the discussion reviewed the status of electrical interconnection projects between Egypt and Saudi Arabia, emphasizing their importance in enhancing grid efficiency and stability while optimizing the use of generation capacity during peak demand periods.
Cairo and Riyadh signed an agreement in 2012 to establish the electrical interconnection project at a cost of $1.8 billion, with Egypt contributing $600 million (1 USD = 49.65 EGP in local banks). In a government meeting in mid-October, Madbouly announced that the interconnection line is expected to become operational in May or June of next year, with an initial capacity of 1,500 megawatts.
This initiative is the first of its kind to enable high-voltage direct current (HVDC) power exchange in the Middle East and North Africa region. It connects Badr City in Egypt to Medina via Tabuk in Saudi Arabia. Late last month, Madbouly highlighted that the project, set to produce 3,000 megawatts in two phases, is a landmark achievement for Egypt’s energy sector.
Presidential spokesperson Mohamed al-Shenawy stated that the meeting also highlighted the progress on the Dabaa Nuclear Power Plant. The project is seen as vital to Egypt’s comprehensive development strategy, which aims to diversify energy sources through renewable and alternative means, improving service delivery to citizens.
Located in northern Egypt, the Dabaa plant will consist of four nuclear reactors with a combined capacity of 4,800 megawatts (1,200 megawatts per reactor). The first reactor is expected to be operational by 2028, with the others coming online sequentially. The Egyptian government has pledged to fulfill its commitments to ensure the project meets its scheduled timeline.
The president also directed the government to intensify efforts to attract investments in the energy sector, develop the management of the national gas grid, and ensure stable energy supplies for both electricity and industrial sectors. Furthermore, he urged rapid progress on renewable energy projects to diversify energy sources, expand grid capacity, and modernize the network using advanced technologies to enhance efficiency and reduce losses.