(DNE File Photo)
Prime Minister Ibrahim Mehleb inaugurated the 750 MW capacity Banha power station Tuesday in the presence of Minister of Electricity and Energy Mohammed Shaker and Qaliubeya Governor Mohammad Abdel-Zahir.
The power station was built on an area of 23 acres on the Kafr Shokr-Banha road in Qaliubeya governorate. It is considered part of the current five-year plans for projects in the sector from 2012 to 2017, to provide environmentally friendly electrical energy for all sectors.
Shaker noted that the cost of the station amounted to $500m, with funding from the Abu Dhabi Fund for Development (ADFD), the Arab Fund for Economic and Social Development (AFESD), the Islamic Development Bank (ISDB), the Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development (KFAED), the OPEC Fund for International Development (OFID) and the Saudi Fund for Development (SFD). Additionally, the Middle Delta for Electricity Production Company (MDEPC) is the local contributor in funding.
Shaker added that the station operates through the combined cycle system, which allows the production of one-third of the energy without using extra fuel.
The station was implemented according to Egyptian designs, with packages for multiple contracts, 16 in total, to maximise the participation of locally manufactured gears and equipments, he added. In addition, the workers and employees in the project were trained and qualified.
Shaker stressed on the continuation of the electricity sector in implementing projects to meet the power supply needs for all community segments.
Mehleb praised the achievements made in the electricity sector, day after day, adding that the government has provided enormous resources to the sector, so as not to repeat last summer’s problems.
Two weeks ago, Mehleb opened the Ain Sokhna power station, which cost $1.7bn and has a capacity of 1300 MW, pumped into the main electricity station in the region.
