By Salah El-Menoufy

The Ministry of Electricity is currently studying an offer from US company General Electric (GE), to build a new centre to generate energy in Egypt.

President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi addressed the project during his meeting with GE’s head approximately 10 days ago. Al-Sisi demanded that the Ministry of Electricity study the offer as a prelude to preparing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Egyptian Electricity Holding Company and GE.

Minister of Electricity Mohamed Shaker disclosed that the new centre will be built in one of the areas affiliated to the Cairo Electricity Production Company. The centre will be located in the area of Helwan, which was initially chosen for the project.

He added that the final cost for the project is yet to be finalised, but that it would be less than the international prices that are being applied on similar projects.

Shaker also said the project targets adding 4,500 MW through the combined cycle technology. He clarified that it includes three modules, each of which consists of two gas units with a capacity of 500 MW per unit. This is in addition to a steam unit with the same capacity that works with no fuel, but through the exhaust of the gas units.

According to sources, the new units will be built instead of old ones that work with 10%-18% efficiency, and consume huge amounts of fuel in comparison to the current rates of the new units.