The Egyptian Electricity Transmission Company (EETC) will meet with Siemens, ABB, and Alstom companies to discuss the transformer tender of the $1.6b Egyptian-Saudi electricity linkage project, with Egypt paying $600m. The project is scheduled to start mid 2017, reported Daily News Egypt.

The project consists of three stages. The first aims to establish two 500 KV alternating current to direct current transformers in Badr City, as well as a station for the aero line connection with the marine cable in Nabaq, Saudi Arabia.

The second phase is a 450km aero line linking Badr Station to Nabaq station and a 850km line between Nabaq and East Madinah.

The third stage is concluded in linking Badr and Nabaq stations via ground cables, along with a 500 KV marine cable across the Gulf of Aqaba, at a distance of 16 km.

Funding will come from the Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development, the Islamic Development Bank, and the Arab Fund for Economic & Social Development, as well as the EETC.