Egypt Strengthens Power Grid as 500kV Zagazig Substation Goes Live Ahead of Summer
Egypt’s Minister of Electricity and Renewable Energy, Dr. Mahmoud Esmat, accompanied by Sharkia Governor Eng. Hazem El-Ashmouny, has inspected and officially commissioned the Zagazig Power Substation (11/66/220/500 kV), marking a major step in strengthening the national electricity grid ahead of the expected surge in summer electricity consumption.
The visit comes as part of Egypt’s sustainable development strategy and the Ministry’s ongoing efforts to upgrade and reinforce the national unified power grid to accommodate rising loads, newly added generation capacities, and large-scale development projects across the country.
Enhancing Electricity Supply and Grid Stability
During the field tour, the Minister reviewed the station’s key components, witnessed the energization and connection to the national grid, and monitored the performance of electricity transmission and distribution networks at various voltage levels. The project aims to ensure stable, uninterrupted power supply to Central Delta governorates and support agricultural, industrial, and urban development projects.
Major Investment in Power Infrastructure
According to a technical briefing presented by Eng. Osama Abdallah, Chairman of EGEMAC, the Zagazig Substation was implemented in line with the highest international technical standards, at a total cost of EGP 2 billion. The station includes:
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500 kV capacity: 1,500 MVA
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66/220 kV capacity: 525 MVA
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11/66 kV capacity: 200 MVA
The substation supplies electricity to several key areas, including Old Zagazig, Behtim, Minya Al-Qamh, Mashtoul El-Souk, Kafr Shukr, Hahia, and Herya, playing a vital role in voltage regulation and grid reliability.
Nationwide Expansion of Transformer Substations
Eng. Mona Rizk, Chairperson of the Egyptian Electricity Transmission Company (EETC), revealed that Egypt commissioned 31 new transformer substations nationwide over the past year, in addition to expansion works at around 40 existing substations, significantly enhancing the country’s power transmission capacity.
Minister: Energy Security Is a National Priority
Dr. Esmat emphasized that the Zagazig 500 kV substation is part of close coordination between the generation, transmission, and distribution sectors to improve electricity service quality and system resilience. He stressed that energy security and sustainability remain core pillars of Egypt’s national development vision, particularly in supporting mega projects in industry, agriculture, and urban development.
The Minister concluded by affirming that Egypt’s electricity supply is currently sufficient for all uses, with ongoing modernization of the national grid to ensure long-term stability, efficiency, and reliability.