Apr 29, 2008 - BBC Monitoring

The Egyptian Minister of Electricity and Energy, Hassan Yunis, announced that the operation of the electricity power network and illumination of Wau city in south Sudan will be on Thursday [ 1 May] as the first fruit of the cooperation between Egypt and the Government of South Sudan in the field of electricity power through a grant of 154 million pounds.

In a press a statement on Tuesday [29 April], the Egyptian minister said that the Egyptian government pledged to implement electricity projects in south Sudan to boost the implementation of development projects there. He indicated that the cost of implementing the project for importation, construction and operation of the Wau electricity generation network, at the capacity of two megawatts, was 41 million Egyptian pounds, which was provided through the donation assigned by the government of Egypt in support of rehabilitation in south Sudan.

Yunis said that the electricity project provides illumination for the city of Wau and meets the demands of around 5,000 to 15,000 families, 80 schools, 8 hospitals and several services utilities.

The Egyptian minister referred to agreements reached for the construction of three electricity generation stations in Bor, Rumbeik and Yambio towns at the capacity of six megawatts and at a cost of 107 million Egyptian pounds, adding that work is continuing to implement these projects.

Source: Suna news agency website, Khartoum, in English 29 Apr 08

BBC Mon ME1 MEEau 300408/hs

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