Schneider Electric power solutions implemented at Egypt’s El-Gabal El-Asfar wastewater plant

Schneider Electric technology has been installed and is operating at El-Gabal El-Asfar Wastewater Treatment Plant, Egypt’s largest wastewater treatment site. The equipment is helping ensure that the El-Gabal El-Asfar Wastewater Treatment Plant can safely and efficiently treat over 2,500,000 m3 per day to support the twelve and a half million Egyptians who live on the Nile’s east bank in the Greater Cairo area. Schneider Electric’s technology is also ensuring that the plant runs safely and more efficiently, reducing downtime at the site which is run by JV Acciona, Passavant and is owned by the country’s Construction Authority for Potable Water and Wastewater.

The plant was established in 1990 to cater to Cairo’s rapid growth, with the initial aim of treating 1,500,000 m3 per day of water. The plant has since been expanded twice, with each expansion adding a further treatment capacity of 500,000 m3 per day, at a total cost of EGP 18 billion. Following the completion of Phase II Stage II, El-Gabal El-Asfar is the largest wastewater treatment plant in Africa and the Middle East, and the third largest worldwide. The site also produces electricity through gas recovery; the electricity generated onsite is used to power 60% of the plant’s power needs.

Schneider Electric’s solution includes medium voltage air and gas insulated switchgear lines, Low voltage motor control centres lines, Variable speed drives lines and MV, LV power transformer lines. These technologies are helping to optimise how water facilities in the country are run. All site works were executed by certified service engineers and technicians in accordance with project plans.

“This project is vital for Cairo’s growth, and ensuring that the power is stable and reliable is key to its operations,” said Karim El-Fawal, Deputy Plant Manager, JV Acciona, Passavant. “Schneider Electric’s technology will help us to ensure the stability of the electricity network at the plant, improving safety and reducing any possible downtime on-site. We’ll also reduce the cost of powering the plant, thanks to the technology’s electrical efficiency levels.”

“Given that only 3% of the world’s water is fresh water, it’s imperative that we do all we can to conserve this resource,” said Walid Sheta, Cluster President for North-East Africa and the Levant, Schneider Electric. “Given the rise in population and rising temperatures, our fresh water resources are under duress. We believe that smart management of water will help ensure that all of us, the public, industry and agriculture, will have access to this resource.”

“This is a megaproject that is essential to the growth of both Cairo and the country,” said Walid El-Shishtawy, VP Services Business NEAL Cluster, Schneider Electric. “We’re proud to be able to play a role in this project’s success and, by extension, help provide the capital with the wastewater network it needs to develop over the coming decades. Our EcoStruxture technology will ensure that the El-Gabal El-Asfar wastewater treatment plant is operating to its full potential, with a host of safety and energy efficiency features that will keep the plant’s staff safe whilst also optimising the power efficiency onsite. Together with JV Acciona, Passavant, we will keep the wastewater flowing safely and reliably from the capital.”