The Egyptian Electricity Holding Company (EEHC) signed a contract for the mechanical work of the West Cairo Power Plant project with the Chinese Jiangsu Electric Power Company (JEPC), worth EGP 605m.
EEHC Head Gaber El Desouky said that the project will be completed within 30 months, noting that the cost of implementation includes a tranche in US dollars worth $23m, as well as 10% as a reserve to supply spare parts or for any emergency work that may arise during the implementation of the project.
He explained that the Chinese company is handling the supply, installation, and testing of mechanical equipment such as centrifugal pumps, air compressors, emergency diesel generators, non-critical pipe works with large diameters, and the required bolts and supports.
It will also manage design, manufacture, supply, installation, and testing procedures for the fire protection system; hydrogen generation system; pipe with small diameters works, pipes, and piping support for steam; water; and air systems.
Moreover, the company will be tasked with the receipt and installation of the equipment supplied by other contractors, such as critical pipes and supports, along with high-pressure steam drain lines; water heaters; pumps and accessories; turbines; management of feeding water pumps; and training technicians on the operation and maintenance of the equipment supplied.
The West Cairo Power Plant comes as part of the existing projects that the sector is working to implement within its five-year plan to consolidate the unified electricity network to meet electricity needs and provide electric feed for all usage purposes.
El Desouky explained that the project consists of a “supercritical pressure” type boiler, using natural gas as primary fuel, fuel oil as alternative fuel, a 650 MW steam turbine, capacitors, generator, and accessories. The plant will be linked to the national grid on 500/220 kV.
El Desouky added that the project is being implemented in a multi-operation system with 16 operations in order to allow the largest number of executing companies to compete and to reach the best price. The project is scheduled to start in December 2019.
The foreign component of the project is financed by a number of international financial institutions, such as the Islamic Development Bank, the Arab Fund for Economic and Social Development, the Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development, the OPEC Fund for International Development, and the Saudi Fund for Development.
