In June 2014, PGESCo signed three contracts valued at 47 million American dollars, to provide engineering and consultancy Services for Salah El Din(2×630 MW) Thermal, Wassit Phase I (4X330 MW) and Phase II (2X630 MW) Thermal and Al Anbar 1642 MW Combined Cycle Power Projects in Iraq.

The signature ceremony which took place at the Baghdad Ministry of Electricity, was attended by H.E. Karim Aftan the Minister of Electricity and H.E. Dr. Mohamed Moussa Omran, the First Undersecretary of the Egyptian Ministry of Electricity and Renewable Energy. The Egyptian Ambassador to Iraq Dr. Ahmed Darwish was also present.

“PGESCo will open a branch office in Baghdad as a base for its expansion plan in Iraq, to provide direct technical support to the Ministry of Electricity” said PGESCo’s General Manager Sherin Mosbeh after signing the contracts. He also stated PGESCo will use the know-how achieved in constructing similar power plants in Egypt to support the Iraqi Ministry’s ambitious plan to establish a technical hub in Baghdad to provide the support required for power generation, renewable energy, distribution and training.

PGESCo was awarded the international standards certificates, ISO 14001:2004 and OHSAS 18001:2007 by Lloyd’s Register which are valid for three years, in July 2014. ISO certification demonstrates PGESCo management’s commitment and support for the ES&H management system allowing us to reach and exceed optimum customer satisfaction.

As the country turns to renewable energy sources to meet energy demands, it is necessary to establish a database that accurately evaluates the net electrical, environmental, and economic return of local PV projects.

PGESCo built an in-house pilot PV plant that is fully monitored by state-of-the-art equipment to create the database. PGESCo engineered, constructed, commissioned and operated a 7 kWp on-grid PV system which consisted of the following:

Twenty four (24) Trina 295Wp poly-crystalline modules.
Steca grid 8000+ 3ph transformer-less inverter.
Web-Log 500 remote monitoring system.
DC cables, combiner boxes and mounting system.
PGESC’s PV pilot plant  covers an area of 60 m2 and outputs 7.08 kWp of power.

The kWh energy generation, yield data and CO2 saving can be monitored via:

http://public.solarmonitoring.net/dashboard/system/R1YZP/B9mk5dx3zS

Hands-on Operation and Maintenance Practices and Experiences
In order to have a long term experience with PV plants operation and maintenance, PGESCo decided to carry out an experimental test to determine soiling impacts on PV plants energy yield and the optimum cycle for modules cleaning in Cairo weather. PV Array was left without cleaning as shown in the photos for three months and the monthly energy yield was closely monitored. Results showed that, by the end of second month PV plant energy yield was reduced by 20% of its modeled value for this month. By the end of third month, energy yield was reduced by 22% of its modeled value for this month (as shown in the below graph).

PGESCo has concluded that PV array cleaning could be carried out every two-three months during summer as the drop in energy yield after the second month is very minor. If it is required to keep the energy yield at its modeled value then cleaning shall be carried out on monthly basis. However, PGESCo will continue the experimental test in winter to monitor if the cleaning cycle would be changed due to weather changes in winter season.

The following link is an additional link for monitoring system:

http://www.pv-log.com/en/photovoltaicplant-pgesco-pv-system-7-kw-on-grid-1

For the third year in a row, PGESCo participated and won an award in Intergraph’s Golden Valve Awards competition. In 2015, PGESCo achieved 2nd place in the Visually Complex Category for a South Helwan design. PGESCo delegates received a plaque and monetary award at the HxGN Live Conference in the USA

For the third year in a row, PGESCo participated and won an award in Intergraph’s Golden Valve Awards competition. In 2015, PGESCo achieved 2nd place in the Visually Complex Category for a South Helwan design. PGESCo delegates received a plaque and monetary award at the HxGN Live Conference in the USA

References
http://www.intergraph.com/ppm/customers/awards/goldenvalve/default.aspx

http://www.intergraph.com/ppm/customers/awards/platinumpipe/2015.aspx

https://hxgnlive.smarteventscloud.com/connect/sessionDetail.ww?SESSION_ID=16486

PGESCo won second place when it participated in the Platinum Pipe competition for the first time, in 2015. PGESCo submitted a video in the SmartPlant Review (SPR) category of the competition which recognizes the most innovative automation ideas for Intergraph Tools. The video demonstrates an idea to enhance designer and computer interaction by using a Wii Remote when performing basic SPR functions.

PGESCo proudly received the award in a ceremony held at the HxGN Live conference.

References
http://www.intergraph.com/ppm/customers/awards/goldenvalve/default.aspx

http://www.intergraph.com/ppm/customers/awards/platinumpipe/2015.aspx

https://hxgnlive.smarteventscloud.com/connect/sessionDetail.ww?SESSION_ID=16486

Dr. Mohamed A. El-Sharkawi, an IEEE Life Fellow who received a B.Sc. Degree in Electrical Engineering from Helwan University in 1971, and a Ph.D. from the University of British Columbia in 1980 was invited by PGESCo for a one day training seminar. This prestigious speaker who received educational, service, and research awards including the Outstanding Educator Award for IEEE Western region in 2014 and the International Fellow Award for 2015-2017, shared his knowledge with 50 Egyptian engineers from PGESCo, the Egyptian electricity sector and private businesses in December 2015.

Dr. El Sharkawi discussed ways to improve the performance and stability of the electrical grid and increase its efficiency to accommodate more loads in a course titled “Reactive Power, Voltage Stability, and Control”. Since proper reactor power and voltage control became vital, this presentation covered the reactive power impact on grid voltage and system losses, voltage collapse concepts, reactive power planning, classic and advanced methods for compensating for reactive power in utility systems, and the cyclic problem of reactive power.

This training program aimed to engage future leaders and provide our electrical engineers with a chance to give back to the public by developing programs that bring businesses and communities together.

Professor Mohamed A. El-Sharkawi emphasized that with Egypt’s huge prospects especially in smart grid use, we have excellent capabilities to establish and operate a smart grid. He stressed Egyptians should not miss this window of opportunity.

PGESCo won an “Honorable Mention” award in Intergraph Golden Valve Competition in the year 2014. Golden Valve awards recognize the most innovative and well-executed uses of software supported by Intergraph globally.

PGESCo implements the latest Technology available in market in engineering, analysis and modeling of Power Plants. PGESCo is the only company from Egypt and the MENA region successfully contributed and won in this competition for the second year. For more details visit the official website of the competition. http://www.intergraph.com/ppm/customers/awards/goldenvalve/default.aspx

PGESCo is pleased to announce that Dr. Samih Wahab P.E., Eng. Mohamed Khattab and Eng. Sherif Hewaidy won first place out of thirteen international competitors, in the International Intergraph at HXGN Live 2014 Conference in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Dr. Samih Wahab presented a PowerPoint entitled “Using GTSTRUDL in the Structural Analysis of Heavy Industrial Buildings. GTSTRUDL was used extensively to design the power block steel structures for the Suez Power Plant (Suez City, Egypt) (1X650 MW).

The design is in accordance with the International Building Code IBC, ASCE, AISC and ACI. The Steam Turbine Generation Building was used as an example for this presentation which focused on the interface between the mechanical, plant design, and structural disciplines, particularly the global problems faced by all companies in pipe support analysis and design. The future possibility of an automated interface between GTSTRUDL, Caesar II, and SP3D was suggested as a solution. This would result in many long-term benefits, including savings in time, money and resources.  PGESCo is very proud of this extraordinary accomplishment and hopes to continue achieving greatness.

SaudConsult, BPE Power and BPE Investment acquire 40% of Egyptian PGESCo.

Saudi engineering firm SaudConsult and investment funds BPE Power and BPE Investment, investment vehicles managed by Beltone Private Equity, concluded an agreement to acquire 40% of Egyptian Power Generation Engineering and Services Company (PGESCo.).

PGESCo provides engineering, procurement, project and site management services to electric power plants. SuadConsult will acquire 20%, while the remaining 20% will go to fund investors.

“Strategic acquisitions of this type and our recent entry into the Iraqi market underscore the importance of our commitment to developing the electric power infrastructure in Egypt and the rest of the Middle East,” said Hamdy El-Shaer, PGESCo’s chairman. “They [strategic acquisitions] are instrumental to our continued growth.”

Sherin Mosbeh, the general manger of PGESCo., said the acquisition can be considered “a transition fully aligned with the company’s strategy of growth in the Middle East.”

Meanwhile, Executive Vice Chairman of SaudConsult Omar Alshawaf said the transactions mark the company’s “commitment to the power space in Egypt.”

“It is a clear sign that Egypt remains an attractive investment destination and we remain committed to supporting the Egyptian economy,” Alshawaf added.

PGESCo. has completed projects for over 19,000 MW of electric power plant capacity and has over 11,000 MW of ongoing projects in Egypt, Libya and Iraq.

Source: http://www.dailynewsegypt.com/2013/11/30/saudi-engineering-firm-invests-in-egyptian-power/

SaudConsult, one of Saudi Arabia’s largest engineering firms, and investment funds – BPE Power Ltd. and BPE Investments Ltd. ‒ have concluded an agreement to acquire 40% of Power Generation Engineering and Services Company S.A.E. (“PGESCo). Saud Consult will acquire 20% and BPE Power and BPE Investments will together acquire the remaining 20%. PGESCo is a leading Egyptian company providing engineering, procurement, project and site management services to electric power plants. PGESCo has completed over 19,000 Mega Watts (MW) of electric power plant capacity and has over 11,000 MW of ongoing projects in Egypt, Libya and Iraq.

The transaction will open new opportunities for PGESCo to be involved in projects in Saudi Arabia and the rest of the GCC countries. PGESCo’s regional presence and team of qualified engineers will also support the growth in new markets.

“Strategic acquisitions of this type and our recent entry into the Iraqi market underscore the importance of our commitment to developing the electric power infrastructure in Egypt and the rest of the Middle East,” commented Dr. Hamdy El Shaer, PGESCo’s Chairman. “They are instrumental to our continued growth.”

“I am pleased to see this new, strategic acquisition take shape in Egypt, a transaction that is fully aligned with our strategy of growth in the Middle East,” added Sherin Mosbeh, General Manager of PGESCo.

“This transaction marks SaudConsult’s commitment to the power space in Egypt,” added Omar Alshawaf, Executive Vice Chairman of SaudConsult. “It is a clear sign that Egypt remains an attractive investment destination and we remain committed to supporting the Egyptian economy.”

About BPE Power and BPE Investments

BPE Power and BPE Investments are investment vehicles managed by Beltone Private Equity. Based in Cairo, Egypt, Beltone Private Equity is a private equity firm with over EGP 3 billion in assets under management and a team of qualified investment professionals whose background ranges from industrial operations to financial services. Beltone Private Equity funds invest in and provide capital to private companies in Egypt to finance their growth. Beltone Private Equity predominantly focuses on local companies with regional growth prospects.

Source: http://amwalalghad.com/en/investment-news/industry-trade/23456-saudconsult-and-group-of-financial-investors-to-acquire-40-of-pgesco.html

Tekla Middle East BIM Awards Competition held in conjunction with Tekla Users Day, annually, boasts the best use of Tekla Structures in 3 significant categories; BIM, Concrete and Steel.

Tekla ME BIM Awards received many entries from across the region from UAE, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Qatar, Egypt, Kuwait, Oman, and Bahrain.  All entries are reviewed by a jury of BIM experts and they take into account the extensive use of Tekla Structures and consider the public voting results.