Orascom Contruction Ltd (OC) has signed in Egypt a contract for the renovation of the Assiut and Damiette power plants. For a total cost of $420 million, it aims to convert the simple cycle thermal plants into combined cycle plants.

The modernization which will also allow the plants to generate energy from biomass should help them boost their respective capacity by 50%. The two plants have a combined capacity of 1,500MW (1,000MW for Assiout and 500 for Damiette). This capacity should increase to 2,250MW after the works have been completed.

“Both power plants will be built on an EPC + Finance basis whereby OC helps arrange a competitive finance package on behalf of the client,” said the company’s release announcing the landing of contract which was signed with Egypt’s armed forces.

“We are proud of our constant leadership in the Egyptian power sector and are glad to continue working on the Assiut and Damiette power plants after the completion of the previous stages,” said Orascom’s CEO, Osama Bishai. The company has indeed built two plants. Works for these started in mid-December 2014 and ended during the third quarter of 2015.

Gwladys Johnson