Sisi meets electricity minister over power production

President Abdel Fattah El Sisi met on Sunday with Electricity Minister Mohamed Shaker for talks on power production volume.

Shaker told the president that power production during rush hours yesterday hit 28,600 megawatt while consumption reached 25,700 megawatt, causing a 2,900-megwatt surplus.

Yesterday power production was the highest in the history of the ministry though other power plants included in the urgent plan have not been yet finalized, presidential spokesman Alaa Youssef said.

The minister attributed the increase in power output to the end of maintenance works of power plants and the operation of a number of new units in the urgent plan at a capacity of 1,580 megawatt.

He noted that the other plants, that will be operational within two months, will add 2,052 megwatt to the national grid.

He updated the president on developments of setting up three power plants with Siemens company, saying the ministry paid 35 percent of the total 6 billion euro contract.

The first plant will come into service in December 2016 at a capacity of 4,400 megawatt then the two other ones will be gradually operational by May 2018 at a capacity of 14,400 megawatt.

The minister said the project will contribute to securing citizens' power needs at the present and in the future as well as meeting investors' demands.