The electrical interconnection between Egypt and Saudi Arabia with a capacity of 3000 megawatts will begin operation in 2026
In a historic move that will reshape the energy landscape of the Middle East, and culminating years of planning and joint efforts, the Arab Republic of Egypt and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia are preparing to inaugurate the trial operation of the largest electricity interconnection project in the region. The Egyptian Minister of Electricity and Renewable Energy, Dr. Mahmoud Esmat, officially announced the anticipated date for the commencement of power flow between the two countries, confirming that the first week of January 2026 will witness the first actual test of the initial line, with a capacity of up to 1500 megawatts.
Operational schedule details
During his active participation in the Al-Ahram Energy Conference, the Egyptian Minister unveiled a detailed roadmap for the project, explaining that the infrastructure for the first phase is fully completed. He indicated that the timeline does not end with the January test, but will be followed by testing of the second line with an additional capacity of 1,500 megawatts just four months after the successful completion of the first phase. Thus, the project's total capacity is expected to reach its peak of 3,000 megawatts by mid-2026, representing a significant leap forward in the electricity grid capabilities of both countries.
Strategic depth and historical background of the project
This project is not a spur-of-the-moment decision, but rather the culmination of a long-term strategic collaboration whose concept began to emerge in 2012 and was finalized with the signing of the implementation contracts in October 2021. This interconnection is the first of its kind in the Middle East and North Africa region to utilize high-voltage direct current (HVDC) technology, an advanced technology that ensures efficient transmission and minimizes losses over long distances. The project's investment cost exceeds $1.8 billion, jointly financed by reputable financial institutions including the Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development, the Arab Fund for Economic and Social Development, and the Islamic Development Bank, in addition to self-financing by the Egyptian Electricity Transmission Company.
Technical components and international alliances
The project is based on a massive infrastructure consisting of three high-voltage substations. The first is located in Badr City, east of Cairo, while the other two are located east of Medina and in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia. These substations are connected by overhead lines extending for approximately 1,350 kilometers and advanced submarine cables spanning 20 to 22 kilometers across the Gulf of Aqaba. An international consortium of leading global and local companies, such as Japan's Hitachi (responsible for the substations), Italy's Prysmian (for the submarine cables), and Egypt's Orascom Construction, oversaw the execution of this engineering marvel, with completion exceeding 98%.
Economic importance and regional dimension
The added value of this project lies in its intelligent exploitation of the time difference in peak electricity consumption between the two countries, which ranges from 3 to 6 hours. This difference allows for the exchange of surplus electricity, enhancing the stability of national grids, reducing reliance on fossil fuels, and saving billions of dollars that would have been spent on building new power plants just to cover peak demand.
Moreover, the project represents a true nucleus for establishing a common Arab electricity market and a vital energy bridge connecting the continents of Africa and Asia. It also paves the way for both countries' ambitions to export clean energy to Europe, supporting the Kingdom's Vision 2030, which aims to achieve 50% renewable energy, and Egypt's sustainable energy strategy, which seeks to reach 42% by 2035.
