Sisi, electricity minister confer on efforts to increase power production

Abdel Fattah El Sisi met Tuesday with Electricity Minister Mohamed Shaker el Marqibi to discuss efforts to increase power production in Egypt.

Sisi stressed the importance that all coal power projects be subject to accurate environmental studies and be implemented in accordance with international standards.

This should be done in coordination with ministries and bodies concerned in order to protect citizens' health and maintain a safe environment, Sisi told Marqibi.

Sisi was pleased with the way an urgent plan to secure electricity was progressing, said presidential spokesman Alaa Youssef.

Marqibi posted the president on current efforts to complete the urgent plan, as well as the broad lines of another plan for next year, Youssef added.

The minister talked about a number of projects that would be implemented in cooperation with China, including one to establish a hydroelectric power station at a capacity of 2,100 megawatts.

Egypt and China will be signing two memorandums of understanding on funding joint electrical projects during an upcoming visit by the Chinese president to Cairo, Marqibi told Sisi.