Middle East & Africa News

Latest news and developments from Middle East and Africa regions

• UK’s Xlinks proposes to build HVDC cable connecting Morocco, UK

  April 21, 2021
  As per news reports, the UK-based renewable energy (RE) solution provider, Xlinks, plans to connect Morocco and the UK via a 3,800-km-long, high voltage direct current (HVDC) undersea transmission cable, which will comprise of four cables in total, making it the longest underwater transmission link in the world.

• Nigerian TCN reconductors 132 kV Sokoto–Birnin Kebbi line

  April 21, 2021
  The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) has completed the reconductoring of its 130-km-long, 132 kV Sokoto–Birnin Kebbi double-circuit transmission line.

• Spanish Abengoa bags 400 kV line contract from UAE’s TRANSCO

  April 19, 2021
  Abu Dhabi Transmission and Despatch Company (TRANSCO), subsidiary of Abu Dhabi National Energy Company (TAQA), has awarded a EUR3.5 million contract to Spanish Abengoa’s transmission and infrastructure vertical – Abengoa Inabensa, for establishing and modifying a 400 kV line in Abu Dhabi.

• Indian L&T secures 132/11 kV substations contract in Dubai

  April 19, 2021
  India-based Larsen & Toubro (L&T) has secured a contract for the design and construction of two 132/11 kV substations in Dubai, United Arab of Emirates (UAE).

• Bahrain may export surplus electricity to Europe in winter

  April 15, 2021
  Bahrain, along with its Gulf neighbors, plans to export surplus electricity to Europe as part of an ambitious plan to be implemented in a phased manner.

• Tanzania’s TANESCO invites competitive bids for 400 kV line

  April 15, 2021
  Tanzania Electric Supply Company Limited (TANESCO) has invited international competitive bids for the supply of equipment and materials for the construction of 160-km-long, 400 kV transmission line connecting the Julius Nyerere hydropower plant (HPP) to Chalinze.

• Namibian NamPower awards NAD660 million 400 kV line contract to local Power Line Africa

  April 7, 2021
  Namibia's state-owned power utility, Namibia Power Corporation Limited (NamPower), has awarded a NAD660 million contract to local construction company Power Line Africa (Pty) Limited, for the design and construction of an 800-km-long, 400 kV power line connecting the Kokerboom and Auas substations.

• Kuwait’s MEW awards KWD4.7 million contract for 300 kV cables

  April 6, 2021
  Kuwait’s Ministry of Electricity and Water (MEW) has awarded a KWD4.7 million contract to local player, Shubaily International General Trading and Contracting Company, for the supply and installation of 300 kV underground cables (UGCs) along a route length of 3.1 km for connecting the FRRD’W’ and SDIQ’W’ substations.

• Saudi’s SEC awards SAR300 million OHTL contract to local NCC

  April 5, 2021
  Recently, the Saudi Electricity Company (SEC) has awarded a SAR300.9 million contract to National Contracting Company (NCC) for the construction of double-circuit overhead transmission line (OHTL) between the Wadi Dawaser and Layla bulk supply points (BSPs).

• Siemens Energy to build grid stabilisation stations in Sudan [free access]

  March 30, 2021
  Recently, the Egyptian Electricity Transmission Company (EETC) and Sudanese Electricity Transmission Company (SETCO) have awarded Siemens Energy with a contract for building two grid stabilisation stations in Sudan, to stabilise the grid and ensure a reliable flow of power from Egypt to Sudan.

• Nigerian TCN installs transformer and reactors at Yauri, Jos substations

  March 30, 2021
  The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) has installed and energised a 40 MVA, 132/33 kV power transformer at the Yauri substation, and 75 MVAr, 330 kV reactors (one each) at the Yauri and Jos transmission substations.

• French Cegelec to complete 225 kV line in Cameroon by late 2021

  March 26, 2021
  The French engineering company Cegelec will complete the construction of the 105-km-long, 225 kV line connecting the 30 MW Lom Pangar hydro power plant (HPP) to the Bertoua substation in Cameroon between November and December 2021.

• UAE-based TAQA plans to invest USD10.9 billion for expansion of T&D network

  March 24, 2021
  United Arab of Emirates (UAE)-based Abu Dhabi National Energy Company (TAQA) plans to invest USD10.9 billion for the expansion of its transmission and distribution (T&D) network, which is part of the company’s 2030 vision for increasing the share of power generation from clean sources to more than 30 per cent, from the current 5 per cent, by 2030.

• Egypt, Jordan sign MoU for establishing electrical interconnection between two countries

  March 23, 2021
  During the 29th session of the Egyptian-Jordanian Higher Committee meeting, the two countries signed several Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) to enhance cooperation in various sectors.

• Eskom to urgently respond to South Africa’s energy problem

  March 23, 2021
  As per news reports, the South Africans were forced to deal with re-occurring power outages, as the state-owned power utility, Eskom Holdings SOC Limited (Eskom), had to resume rotational power cuts as its generation capacity is insufficient to meet the demand.

• Construction of 400 kV Chimuara–Alto Molocue line begins in Mozambique

  March 22, 2021
  As per a news report, the foundation stone has been laid for the construction of the 366-km-long, 400 kV Chimuara–Alto Molocue line project in Mozambique.

• Saudi’s SEC awards SAR81 million, 132 kV OHTL contract to local TDP

  March 17, 2021
  Saudi Electricity Company (SEC) has awarded local company Trading Development Partnership (TDP) an engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contract worth SAR81.1 million, for the construction of 11.4-km-long, 132 kV overhead transmission line (OHTL) for the interconnection of the Uraidh (8374) substation to the gird network.

• UAE’s DEWA commissions 400/132 kV Shams substation

  March 17, 2021
  United Arab Emirates’ (UAE) Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) has commissioned the 400/132 kV Shams substation valued at USD153 million, which is associated with the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum (MBR) Solar Park.

• MoU on HVDC EuroAfrica to be finalised by March 2021

  March 17, 2021
  By the end of March 2021, a video conference is expected to be conducted between Cyprus, Greece and Egypt to finalise the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the EuroAfrica Interconnector project, which will connect the power grids of the three countries via subsea interconnections.

• Angola receives USD530 million of financial support from AfDB for 400 kV line

  March 16, 2021
  The African Development Bank (AfDB) will provide financial support worth USD530 million for the construction of the 343-km-long, 400 kV Huambo–Lubango transmission line project.