The Minister of Electricity and Renewable Energy, Mohamed Shaker, said a new plan is underway to develop a smart energy grid that supports the digital transformation strategy adopted by the government, with some Chinese companies already applying to engage in the development plan of the sector.
The Chinese proposals include innovative solutions in the fields of communications and information technology to build a strong, flexible, and safe electricity grid, Shaker said.
The ministry adopted a unified digital system in collecting electricity bills, upon the recommendation of the National Council for Payments to digitalise all public services. 415 payment collection centres affiliated to the Egyptian Electricity Holding Company(EEHC) have already been automated, according to Shaker.
Hence, electricity bill payment will be available through all banking outlets, whether branches or ATMs, and Internet banking.
Egyptian Electricity Transmission Company (EETC) has contracted Siemens to supply the first digital power transformer to the Egyptian market, Shaker said. It is expected to promote reliability and operational efficiency of the energy transferred from the Kafr El-Sheikh and Zagazig 500/220 KV transformer substations in the Delta region, which is seeing growing energy demand.
The electricity sector is currently working on improving and developing transmission and distribution networks, including high-voltage transformer stations and control centres. Enhancing the national electricity grid is necessary to absorb the newly added capacities from renewable energy projects, reduce the electricity loss in the grid, and boost electrical interconnection with neighbouring countries.
The electricity sector is implementing reform policies to launch the digital transformation process of energy, achieve security and sustainability of electricity, and increase energy efficiency., the minister said. The new policies would also pave the way for the private sector to invest in various fields of traditional and renewable energy and smart networks, and enhance transparency and governance of the sector.
The digital transformation is one of the most prominent files put forward by the government with the aim of providing outstanding services in the simplest and cost-effective methods anytime and anywhere to all institutions and citizens. This can be possible through the development of a secured integrated digital system at the national level, and stimulating foreign investment in digital industries.
