CAIRO: Orascom Construction (ORAS EY, OC DU) has added 250 Megawatts (MW) to Egypt’s national power grid at the West Damietta power plant, two weeks ahead of schedule, it said in a Thursday statement.
Orascom Construction is part of a consortium building Assiut (1,000 MW) and West Damietta (500 MW) power plants on a fast-track basis.
“Early completion of the first phase ensures that the additional power capacity would meet peak demand during Ramadan,” the statement read.
During May and June, the company has added 925 MW to Egypt’s national grid through the new Assiut power plant, West Damietta and the second phase of 6 October City.
In collaboration with Siemens, Orascom Construction will build two combined-cycle power plants in Egypt with a production capacity of 4,800 MW.
The two power plants, with a cost estimated at €4 billion ($4.49 billion,) will be established north of Borolos Lake in Egypt’s Delta governorate Kafr el-Sheikh and at the new administrative capital city east of Cairo, according to the statement.
Egypt’s government is working to tackle the worst energy crisis that the country has faced over the past years; rolling power cuts in the summer have become routine since the January 25 Revolution in 2011, caused by fuel shortfalls at power plants, and increasing demand.