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Gov’t wants to up its hydropower capacity: The Electricity Ministry plans to carry out USD 4 bn worth of hydroelectric power projects in partnership with the private sector, Al Arabiya reports, citing unnamed government sources. The government will reportedly seek out global hydropower companies and financiers to implement the projects.
Among the projects: The ministry is looking to set up a water pumping and storage station with a capacity of 2.4 GW in Egypt’s mountainous Ataka region. The government had reportedly inked an MoU with a Chinese company over three years ago to implement the project, before being indefinitely postponed due to financial and technical issues.
SOUND SMART: Pumped storage hydropower acts as a giant battery to store energy. It works by using surplus electricity to pump water uphill into a reservoir in periods of low demand or high supply, releasing it downhill through turbines to generate electricity when demand rises or supply falls. This energy storage method allows networks that rely on solar and wind power to keep the lights on even when the wind drops or the sun goes down.
Remember: The Electricity Ministry wants renewables to make up 58% of Egypt’s total energy mix by 2040. Currently hydroelectric power accounts for 5% of the country’s total renewables capacity, according to Al Arabiya.
WHERE ARE OUR LNG IMPORTS COMING FROM-
Three of our LNG suppliers unveiled: Singapore’s Trafigura and Switzerland’s Vitol and Glencore have won a tender to provide Egypt with five shipments of LNG through August and September, Asharq Business reports, citing an unnamed government official. The government secured the shipments at “favorable prices,” which can be paid back under a deferred payment plan.
More to come: The government will launch new LNG tenders every three months or so, based on the energy sector’s needs, the official said.
Remember: A fall in domestic production has pushed the country from being a net exporter to a net importer of LNG in recent months. The government has been ramping up imports in efforts to ensure the lights stay on after an extended period of power cuts.
We have more imports on the way: Egypt secured 21 LNG shipments in June as it works toensure it has sufficient supplies to keep the lights on during the current period of increased demand expected to last till September. Last we heard, we received five of the shipments and two are on the way.
