General Electric (GE) started $80m maintenance work on the Kuraymat and North Giza power plants in Egypt, reported Al Borsa.

A source with the Egyptian Ministry of Electricity and Renewable Energy stated that the cost is divided between $70m for developing a production unit in Kuraymat and $10m to run maintenance for the North Giza power plant. The units in the Kuraymat plant are expected to resume operation by the end of December.

The source added that GE total dues for the last six months of 2016 has reached $180m. The amount related to maintenance work at various plants across Egypt including Mahmoudya and Noubarya power plants. The company had performed simple and complex maintenance work based on the status of the production units and turbines.

This comes as the ministry of electricity has a plan in place to develop power plants in order to increase efficiency instead of establishing new power plant which could cost the country a lot investments. The ministry will also adapt combined cycle technologies in power plants to reduce fuel consumption.

The ministry has started preparation for summer 2017 by boosting the efficiency of electricity power plant and adding new capacities as well as developing the electricity distribution grids.