Egypt, Saudi Arabia accelerate electricity interconnection project toward 2026 operation

Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly has ordered the accelerated completion of the second phase of the Egypt–Saudi Arabia electricity interconnection project, set to begin operations by April 2026.

During an inspection tour on Tuesday, Madbouly reviewed the testing and trial operations of the 500-kilovolt direct-current (DC) power station in Badr City—a vital part of the regional linkage—according to a Cabinet statement.

Madbouly highlighted the project’s strategic importance, describing it as one of the core pillars of energy cooperation between Egypt and Saudi Arabia, aimed at strengthening regional power integration and ensuring grid stability for both nations.

According to the statement, construction has been finalized on the Badr and Taba 2 substations, alongside the 500-kV overhead transmission line connecting them, which extends roughly 320 kilometers. The completion also includes marine and underground cabling, control panel testing, drainage and water systems, and optical fiber (OPGW) installations—bringing the project closer to full grid linkage.

The Egypt–Saudi interconnection project, designed to transmit up to 3,000 megawatts of electricity, comprises three major high-voltage substations in eastern Saudi Arabia, Tabuk, and Badr east of Cairo, connected through approximately 1,350 kilometers of overhead lines and submarine cables.

Implementation is being carried out by a consortium of three leading international companies.