The Chinese-Egyptian XD-Egemac Company completed the implementation of 80% of electricity transformer stations that transfer electricity produced by solar plants in Banban and Aswan, which will be launched according to the feed-in tariff system.

A source in the company said that XD-Egemac received 70% of its dues worth about EGP 447m. The source added that the company is to complete the implementation of four transformer stations in Banban within 60 days.

The source said that the company operates according to a timetable agreed on with officials of the Ministry of Electricity, especially since the participating companies in the first and second phases of the feed-in tariff projects will need up to three months to build the stations. XD-Egemac will be completing the transformer stations within this time frame.

XD-Egemac contracted with the Ministry of Electricity to supply stations and transformers in Banban to transfer electricity produced by solar energy projects, according to the feed-in tariff that amounts to EGP 650m.

The source pointed out that the company will establish 12 electricity transformers with a capacity of 175 MVA. 9 units are currently installed in Banban stations 1, 2, and 4, while three units are currently installed in Banban Station 3.

The source explained that the company supplied all the work including 12 electricity transformers with a capacity of 175 MVA, of which four have been installed on concrete bases.

The company completed the installation of high voltage transformers, panels and medium voltage transformers. Two stations will be installed with a capacity of 220 KV within weeks.

The Egyptian Electricity Transmission Company (EETC) received EGP 800m from solar energy investors according to a cost-sharing agreement, which is one of the five agreements signed by eligible investors for the establishment of new and renewable energy projects according to the feed-in tariff.

The cost-sharing includes sharing the cost of connecting planned solar power plants to the national electricity grid and the infrastructure work in Banban according to the feed-in tariff system.

Companies that received lands to establish a solar power plant in Banban paid about EGP 20m of the cost of connectivity.