Egypt and the Saudi Arabia signed $1.8 billion worth of contracts in Cairo on Tuesday to build transmission plants and connect each other's power grids.
The project will have a peak transmission capacity of 3,000 megawatts and will be implemented by three consortiums made up of international and regional companies, according to an Egyptian cabinet statement.
Saudi Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman and Egypt’s Minister of Electricity and Renewable Energy Mohamed Shaker signed the agreement for the venture led by the Egyptian Electricity Transmission Company and the Saudi Electricity Company.
“Reaching this important stage is the culmination of the directives of the leaderships of the two brotherly countries,” Prince Abdulaziz said at the accord ceremony, which was also attended by the chairmen of both the companies.
Under the agreement, two transmission plants will be set up in Saudi Arabia and one in Egypt.
The East Medina and Tubok plants in Saudi Arabia will be connected to the Badr plant, east of Cairo, by 1,350 kilometres of aerial cables and a 22-kilometre undersea network that will join both countries through the Gulf of Aqaba.
The high-voltage, direct current, or HVDC, system, with a voltage capacity of 500 kilovolts, aims to improve the efficiency and stability of both power grids, and clear a path for future ventures between the two countries.
The agreement will also boost their co-operation in renewable energy, Prince Abdulaziz said.
It will also reduce individual carbon footprints, according to Orascom Construction, which will build the link stations between the two countries.
Earlier this year, Egypt announced plans for similar power-sharing projects with Greece and Cyprus.
Under the current government, Egypt has gone from dealing with periodic power cuts to becoming a major regional player in the energy sector.
A similar joint project with Sudan was launched earlier this year, the first of phase of which generates 80 megawatts at peak times.
Where to donate in the UAE
The Emirates Charity Portal
You can donate to several registered charities through a “donation catalogue”. The use of the donation is quite specific, such as buying a fan for a poor family in Niger for Dh130.
The General Authority of Islamic Affairs & Endowments
The site has an e-donation service accepting debit card, credit card or e-Dirham, an electronic payment tool developed by the Ministry of Finance and First Abu Dhabi Bank.
Al Noor Special Needs Centre
You can donate online or order Smiles n’ Stuff products handcrafted by Al Noor students. The centre publishes a wish list of extras needed, starting at Dh500.
Beit Al Khair Society
Beit Al Khair Society has the motto “From – and to – the UAE,” with donations going towards the neediest in the country. Its website has a list of physical donation sites, but people can also contribute money by SMS, bank transfer and through the hotline 800-22554.
Dar Al Ber Society
Dar Al Ber Society, which has charity projects in 39 countries, accept cash payments, money transfers or SMS donations. Its donation hotline is 800-79.
Dubai Cares
Dubai Cares provides several options for individuals and companies to donate, including online, through banks, at retail outlets, via phone and by purchasing Dubai Cares branded merchandise. It is currently running a campaign called Bookings 2030, which allows people to help change the future of six underprivileged children and young people.
Emirates Airline Foundation
Those who travel on Emirates have undoubtedly seen the little donation envelopes in the seat pockets. But the foundation also accepts donations online and in the form of Skywards Miles. Donated miles are used to sponsor travel for doctors, surgeons, engineers and other professionals volunteering on humanitarian missions around the world.
Emirates Red Crescent
On the Emirates Red Crescent website you can choose between 35 different purposes for your donation, such as providing food for fasters, supporting debtors and contributing to a refugee women fund. It also has a list of bank accounts for each donation type.
Gulf for Good
Gulf for Good raises funds for partner charity projects through challenges, like climbing Kilimanjaro and cycling through Thailand. This year’s projects are in partnership with Street Child Nepal, Larchfield Kids, the Foundation for African Empowerment and SOS Children's Villages. Since 2001, the organisation has raised more than $3.5 million (Dh12.8m) in support of over 50 children’s charities.
Noor Dubai Foundation
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum launched the Noor Dubai Foundation a decade ago with the aim of eliminating all forms of preventable blindness globally. You can donate Dh50 to support mobile eye camps by texting the word “Noor” to 4565 (Etisalat) or 4849 (du).
White hydrogen: Naturally occurring hydrogen
Chromite: Hard, metallic mineral containing iron oxide and chromium oxide
Ultramafic rocks: Dark-coloured rocks rich in magnesium or iron with very low silica content
Ophiolite: A section of the earth’s crust, which is oceanic in nature that has since been uplifted and exposed on land
Olivine: A commonly occurring magnesium iron silicate mineral that derives its name for its olive-green yellow-green colour
The President's Cake
Director: Hasan Hadi
Starring: Baneen Ahmad Nayyef, Waheed Thabet Khreibat, Sajad Mohamad Qasem
Rating: 4/5
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
