Egypt projects 7% surge in summer electricity demand

Mahmoud Esmat has instructed electricity sector companies across Egypt to raise their readiness levels ahead of an expected 7% year-on-year (y/y) hike in electricity demand during the summer of 2026, Al Masry Al Youm reported.

The government is accelerating efforts to strengthen and modernise the national grid while expanding renewable energy projects to ensure stable power supplies during peak consumption months, the minister said. The strategy aims to improve grid resilience, reduce fuel consumption, and support the integration of clean energy sources. Egypt aims to have renewables account for 45% of its electricity mix by 2028.

During a meeting with senior officials from electricity generation, transmission and distribution companies, Esmat noted that upgrading the national grid must remain an ongoing process capable of adapting to rising demand and the rapid rollout of renewable energy projects.

The talks focused on emergency preparedness plans, operational efficiency and measures to prevent outages during periods of heavy consumption. Authorities also reviewed maintenance programmes, fuel management policies and coordination mechanisms with the National Energy Control Centre to ensure rapid responses to technical faults.

The ministry said additional transformer stations and grid enhancements are being deployed to accommodate growing renewable capacity. Officials also examined different operating scenarios based on available fuel supplies, alongside plans to prioritise power plants with lower fuel consumption rates.

The meeting further addressed preventive maintenance systems, strategic spare parts reserves and digital integration between maintenance programmes and inventory management systems to improve reliability and service quality for consumers nationwide.