CAIRO: According to Ash-Sharq Al-Awsat, a source close to the Saudi Ministry of Water and Electricity has revealed to the regional paper that the Saudi and Egyptian governments will sign an agreement on Aug. 23 to combine both counties electricity systems.

This agreement is one of a series between Arab countries, stretching from Morocco in the west to the Persian Gulf in the east. Experts assess that the entire Pan-Arab project will be completed by 2010 and will cost $50 billion (approximately LE 287 billion).

In March 2001, Syria and Jordan began connecting their electricity systems and are expected to join forces with Egypt, Lebanon, Iraq and Turkey. Further to the east, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Qatar will first connect their systems, and by 2008 will add the United Arab Emirates, Oman and Yemen to the network. NOOZZ