Egyptian Minister of Electricity and Renewable Energy Mahmoud Esmat reviewed plans to upgrade the national unified power grid to absorb new solar and wind capacities and implement battery storage projects to ensure a sustainable electricity supply.
During a meeting with the ministry’s strategic committee, Esmat discussed scenarios to secure the national grid, cope with rising demand, and reduce reliance on fossil fuels. The discussions evaluated the grid’s performance following an unprecedented increase in electricity consumption during the recent summer months.
“The development plan and grid studies are an ongoing process,” Esmat said, noting the extraction of lessons learned from the current summer and the grid’s success in managing increased loads. He emphasised continuous monitoring “within the framework of the phased plan implemented last summer, which enabled the electrical grid to absorb high loads and unprecedented increases in consumption.”
Esmat reviewed the specific timelines for connecting upcoming solar and wind projects to the grid, alongside the technical inputs required to expand generation capacities. He also tracked the executive progress of electrical energy storage projects using battery technology. These include both standalone stations and facilities connected to renewable energy sites, aimed at maximising resource utilisation and stabilising the electrical grid.
The meeting was attended by Gaber Desouky, Chairman of the Egyptian Electricity Holding Company; Mona Rizk, Chairperson of the Egyptian Electricity Transmission Company; Ahmed Mohina, Head of the Strategic Planning and Performance Follow-up Sector; Assistant Minister Mohamed Daabis; Ali Abdel Fattah, CEO of the Egyptian Electric Utility and Consumer Protection Regulatory Agency; and Ehab Ismail, CEO of the New and Renewable Energy Authority.
The committee additionally addressed operational plans to improve energy efficiency across the residential and industrial sectors, rationalise consumption, and enhance overall energy security.
Esmat stated that the government is operating under an integrated vision to modernise the unified grid, apply quality and economic operation standards, and improve service levels. He affirmed that electrical energy remains available for all uses under the state’s sustainable development plan, noting ongoing coordination with all relevant authorities to ensure the network can accommodate expected load increases in the coming years.
