The Egyptian Electricity Holding Company (EEHC) has stopped the operation of a number of production units with capacities up to 18,000 MW due to lack of demand and low consumption rates.
Senior sources at the EEHC told Daily News Egypt that the list of units stopped includes the three Siemens power plants and all production units included in the Urgent Plan.
It also includes three units in Aboul Sultan Station, four units in Kafr El-Dawar, four units in Attaqa, one unit in Damanhour, Sharm El Sheikh, Hurghada, Mahmoudiya, Ain Sokhna, and Abu Qir.
The sources added that Siemens had delivered all production stations at full capacity, but the EEHC preferred not to operate the plants at full capacity.
The sources said that only three production units in Burulus Power Plant are operating now to output 1,200 MW. This is the same in the New Administrative Capital, while in Beni Suef; production is now at 2,000 MW.
“All units are ready for operation at any time.Stoping them is due to surplus in energy. The Ministry of Electricity is working to meet the need of all consumers and improve the efficiency of services, ” the source said.
The maximum consumption of electricity per day is 24,000 MW. The EEHC resorts to stopping units especially as the demand falls in the winter.
The sources pointed out that the maximum load expected for consumption in the summer will not exceed 35,000 MW, while production can reach 50,000 MW.
The EEHC holds high hopes for the establishment of national and industrial projects to supply electricity to them, as well as the exchange of energy with a number of countries including Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Cyprus, Greece and Jordan, provided that the reserves of electrical capacity of the network ranges between 10 and 15% of production.
