First electric spark discharged from Aswan power plant
Egypt, History, 1/10/2002

Electricity is one of the main resources of energy in the world, and an essential factor in the process of progress and development.The electricity share per/capita is one of the main criteria for the assessment of the standard of living in any society.

On Jan. 10, 1960, the first electric spark was discharged from Aswan Power Plant, one of the outstanding landmarks in the course of the July 23,1952 Revolution.

In pursuit of that course the electricity power Sector has witnessed great strides in the present mandate of President Mubarak.

Before the 1952 Revolution, Egypt was falling behind both, in the production and consumption of electricity. Therefor, a permanent long-term general policy was adopted by the Revolution to expand the production of electrical power from the available hydraulic resources-hence the creation of the Ministry of Electricity and Energy, and the Rural Electrification Authority and the beginning of the large-scale hydroelectricity Era in Egypt, in the context of the Revolution's national projects for electricity production. The hydroelectric power, first produced in 1926 on a modest scale, is currently one of the important resources of renewable energy exploited in Egypt.

The production of hydroelectricity is proportionally related to the flowing of the Nile waters-the hydroelectricity plants are, therefor, co-related to the irrigation projects in Egypt.

Aswan Power Plant- a historical Background.

Having constructed the Aswan Dam in 1902, the, then Egyptian Government considered the idea of constructing a hydroelectrical plant, exploiting the flowing waters of the Dam. But the political disturbances and the financial crisis related to the British occupation of Egypt, besides World Wars I and II, hampered the project.

Implementation of the Project:

The project found its way towards implementation after enormous efforts by the state under the 1952 Revolution-for the development and welfare of Egypt.

The Aswan Dam Plant I on the western bank of the Nile was opened on Sunday, Jan. 10,1960, and the first unit was set in operation, for the plant to gradually accomplish its generating capacity afterwards.

The Plant is composed of seven main units and two auxiliary units with a total capacity of 345 Megawatt.

Three hundred meters nearby, stands the Transformation Plant which augments the voltage to 132 kr. Four high-Voltage lines branch from the plant to supply different areas with the electricity of the project.

Benefits of the Project:

The estimated electricity generated by the Aswan Dam Plant I is about 188 millions kw/hr., 80% of which aliments Aswan Kima Factory, and the rest is used for operating irrigation water lifting stations, supplying municipal utilities, and electrification of the New Nubian villages built east of the Kum Umbo plain.

The hydro-generated electricity represented by then, 36% of the total production of electricity in Egypt.

Development of the Project:

After the construction of the High Dam, and in accordance with the irrigation and navigation requirements, the discharged water at Aswan amounts to 230240 m3 daily-an amount which exceeds the possible discharge of water through the turbines of Aswan Dam Plant 1.

Therefore, the Aswan Dam plant II, a little bit to the north was put under consideration. It was built in five years, producing electricity equivalent to 374000 tons of fuel. Thus, it became possible to obtain approximately 300 million kw/hr. annually from both Aswan Plants Iand II.

Mubarak Proceeds with the Process of Achievements in expeditious Strides:

The mandate of President Mubarak has witnessed enormous achievements in the field of electricity, as incarnated in:

Erection and expansion of 15 giant power plants such as Talkha, Abu Queir, South and West Cairo.

Increasing the capacity of the High-Voltage plants from 12472 mega /V.A to 41275 mega /V in 1997.

Increasing the available electrical power from 18 billion kw/hr in 1981 to 90 billion kwlhr in 1997.

Increasing the annual share per/capita from 430 kw/hr in 1981 to 1300 kw/hr in 1997.

Electrification of 6131 villages and 22454 minor villages.

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