Minister of Electricity: Supporting the Egypt-Cyprus interconnection project and monitoring implementation progress

Cairo – Hanaa El-Sayed

Dr. Mahmoud Esmat, Minister of Electricity and Renewable Energy, received Ambassador Poly Ioannou, the Cypriot Ambassador to Cairo, and her accompanying delegation at the ministry’s headquarters in the New Administrative Capital. The meeting aimed to explore ways to support and strengthen cooperation and partnership, increase investments in renewable energy fields, and follow up on the implementation of the interconnection project between the two countries within the framework of electricity interconnection projects linking Egypt’s national electricity grid with the European electricity grid.

Dr. Mahmoud Esmat welcomed the Cypriot Ambassador, praising the depth of relations between the two states and their strategic partnership across various sectors, particularly in energy. He highlighted the fraternal and historical ties binding the Egyptian and Cypriot peoples, as well as the close cooperation in electricity and renewable energy projects. At the forefront of these efforts is the interconnection project between the two countries’ grids, with subsequent expansion to interconnect with Greece and, from there, with Europe. He also emphasized increasing the reliance on renewable energy in the energy mix, boosting joint investments in clean and renewable energy production and transmission, and modernizing, developing, and strengthening the unified grid in both countries to accommodate and transmit new energy sources. Furthermore, he underscored the importance of achieving regional integration for energy security by enhancing the partnership among Egypt, Cyprus, and Greece, and supporting the integration of energy infrastructure within the framework of the national energy strategy.

Dr. Mahmoud Esmat explained that the interconnection project between the two countries strengthens partnership and cooperation, while also delivering benefits to the electricity grids of both nations by increasing available capacities. It also supports investment in renewable energy and facilitates the transfer of expertise in industry and sustainable development. He affirmed the continued work on the project to maximize returns from natural resources for generating renewable energy in Egypt, pointing to the importance of interconnection projects for energy exchange between Egypt and neighboring countries, enabling Egypt to become a regional energy hub. He also highlighted the role of these projects in achieving mutual benefit, ensuring the security and continuity of electricity supply, and maintaining grid stability.

For her part, Ambassador Poly Ioannou, the Cypriot Ambassador to Cairo, praised the historical relations linking the two countries. She noted the Cypriot government’s keen interest in the interconnection project between the two nations, emphasizing the project’s importance and its economic returns, as well as its role in strengthening the bonds of friendship between Egypt and Cyprus.