PAC World:   Dr. Fayek Farid Faragalla, when and where were you born?

F.F.: I was born in a village called "Courashia" in the Delta Region of Egypt, where my father was working in a Governmental Administration that was responsible for managing the State Land.

PAC World:  Where did you grow up?

F.F.:  At the age of five, I moved to live with my grandparents on my mother’s side. My grandfather was a retired civil servant. He retired in a village in the heart of the Delta. Some of my mother's relatives also lived in that village - namely a brother, sisters, cousins.  My grandfather owned some agricultural land that he managed himself. I joined a preparatory school there.

Living with such a wide community of relatives was very enjoyable as I received a lot of care and attention as the first grandson.

My parents used to come and visit me every now and then.

PAC World:  Do you remember anything from your childhood that shows interests in the field of electrical engineering?

F.F.:   Meanwhile, my father had been moved to work in Cairo at the Headquarters of the Administration where he was working. Then I moved to live with my parents in Cairo after staying about two years with my grandparents. I joined a primary school as a pupil in the first year.

In Cairo, for the first time I experienced the amenities of electricity. Indeed, I was fascinated with its huge possibilities: lighting, radio, house appliances. 

PAC World: What were your interests while in school?

F.F.:   My preferred subjects in secondary school were mathematics, mechanics, and physics, besides languages.

As for my activities besides studying, I started with gymnastics and football, but I did not reach a high level so I moved to play chess right through the Faculty of Engineering.

After joining the university, I started to swim.

PAC World:   Why did you decide to study electrical engineering?

F.F.:   Joining the Faculty of Engineering in Cairo University, we spent the first two years studying common courses before choosing the Specialty Departments.

I decided to study electrical engineering in preference to chemical and mechanical engineering. The main reasons for this choice were the topics of electrical engineering against other specialties, and it included more mathematics and physics.

PAC World:   What did you study in the university in Egypt?

F.F.:   In the Faculty of Engineering I studied mathematics, mechanics, physics, engineering, drawing, solid geometry, heat engines, machine design during the first three years before the specialized study in electrical engineering that was for two years.

Electrical engineering courses included A.C. circuits, D.C. machines, A.C. machines, instruments, asynchronous machines, electrical machine design, power stations, electric power engineering, telephony, and radio engineering.

PAC World: Why did you decide to continue your education in the UK?

F.F.: After graduating with Distinction Degree, and being placed at the top of Graduates of Electrical Engineering in June 1946, I was appointed to the job of Demonstrator,  whose responsibility is to assist in teaching activities other than lecturing mainly in Teaching Sections and the Laboratories. Having chosen the academic career, I had to obtain Higher Degrees in engineering e.g. M.Sc. Eng and Ph.D. Eng, that are based on research work. So I started some preliminary research in the field of Electrical Motors. However the University through the Ministry of Education used to delegate staff members to undertake post graduate studies abroad in countries like U.K., U.S.A., France, so that they are qualified to be responsible for teaching and research in their Departments.

In the fall of 1949, I won the scholarship of delegation in Electrical Engineering to U.K. for five years to obtain the Ph.D. Degree, and to have practical training.

PAC World: You have worked in academia, industry and government. Do you have a preference and if "Yes", why?

F.F.: In fact, I liked working in these three arenas.

I enjoyed the Academic Career and began to do Research in the field of Automatic Control and Electric Power. Unfortunately, I found many obstacles in financing the research, the routine of obtaining the apparatus and equipment.

In order to overcome these obstacles amid a process to develop society in general, I set out to achieve these aims through Parliament, which could issue new laws that fulfill the required development. Hence I decided to contest the General Elections in 1957 for the first Parliament after the fall of the monarchy in Egypt by the 1952 Revolution.

I won the elections and became Member of Parliament for one of the Constituencies in Cairo, so I left the University.

In the sixties, Egypt launched the Plan of Electrification as part of the construction of the Central Project of the High Dam.  That’s when I joined the Ministry of Electric Power. I stayed working in the Government for 20 years taking part in the development of the Egyptian Electric Power System.

At the age of 60, I had to go on pension according to the law, but I continued to be related to the Electric Power Sector until now, in a consultative capacity.

Since going on pension, I have been approached by some investors to establish a factory to produce Power Cables as Chairman and CEO of the Board of Directors. Although the aim was to produce Medium Voltage Cables, we succeeded to develop the production of High Voltage Cables relying on our own R&D and then the production of Extra High Voltage Cables. I stayed in that post for 21 years.

PAC World: What was the greatest challenge you faced?

F.F.: Every job I’ve had has been a challenge. Why otherwise would they ask a man with so much experience to take it? The biggest challenges were to overcome the problems of insulation and pollution in the 220 and 500 kV  networks. In the 30’s, we had problems with the network in the Northern part of the country.  We could not operate a 66 kV system at voltage higher than 33 kV. The second challenge was when I was assigned to chair Cairo electricity. Things were so bad that the network was completely unreliable. We had to find a solution and improve the reliability. The third challenge was when I moved to the industry – in cable manufacturing. We had to change the insulation method in order to get good results in partial discharge testing. We developed the technology through our own R&D and succeeded, first in 66 kV and later at higher voltages.

PAC World:  What do you consider your greatest professional achievement?

F.F.: Addressing the challenges and solving the above-mentioned problems has been my greatest professional achievement.

PAC World:  What do you consider your greatest personal achievement?

F.F.: Being elected by the people as a Member of Parliament is my greatest personal achievement.  

PAC World:  You have been representative of Egypt in different international organizations. What is your opinion regarding the participation in such activities?

F.F. Taking part in the different international organizations in the fields of energy, electric power transmission, electricity distribution, was extremely useful as it furnished me with the state of art available all over the world, with all its futuristic horizons.

PAC World:  What awards have you received?

F.F.: I received the following Awards:

 The Order of the Republic was given to me by Anwar El Sadat, the President of the Republic of Egypt  as the Director of the Egyptian Electricity Corporation for "...Studies, Research and Projects in recognition of his good character and appreciated Services to the Project of the High Dam".

 Anwar El Sadat also gave me the order of Science and Arts when I was the Chairman of the Cairo Electricity Distribution Co. in recognition of my services to the state.

The Certificate of Recognition issued by the Syndicate of Engineers was given to me in appreciation for  my services to the engineering profession and society.

I was also given the title of “Distinguished Member" of CIGRÉ in acknowledgement of long-standing collaboration to the work of the association.

PAC World:   Which one do you consider the most significant?

F.F.: The three mentioned above are very different. Each one of them is quite significant to me. 

PAC World:  What do you think about the "Smart Grid"?

F.F.: The Smart Grid is gaining momentum in view of the great strides in the New and Renewable Energy.  At the moment the smart grid is in the experimental stage. The breakthrough will depend on the cost of such grids and the amount of required investments.

PAC World:  The technology in the filed of electric power systems protection, automation and control has changed significantly in the last twenty years. What is your opinion regarding these changes?

F.F.: Changes in the field of Electric Power Systems in the domain of Protection, Control and Automation during the last twenty years are great steps in the development of Electric Power Systems. They realized more reliability, continuity of supply, better power quality, better planning and system operation.

PAC World:  How would you compare the changes around the world with the changes in the Middle East?

F.F.: In the Middle East, we almost implemented the International Interconnection between the networks of the East Mediterranean of Egypt, Jordan, Syria, Lebanon, Iraq, Libya and Turkey. Few links are to be completed.

In addition, we are implementing the Interconnection scheme of the Arab Maghreb Countries extending from Egypt to Libya, Tunisia, Algiers, Morocco and then to Spain.

In this Interconnection, the System must fulfill the required performance in Protection, Control and Automation as that in Europe.

PAC World:  How do you see the future of our industry?

F.F.: Our Industry shall continue to grow as electricity has proved to be the most successful form of energy and still spreading everywhere in the world. It is replacing all other forms of non- commercial energies as the case of electric cars, fuel cells.  New and renewable energies are being harnessed to electrical energy.

PAC World:  You are still actively involved in consulting, conferences and education. What keeps you going?

F.F.: I love my work and long to follow new developments which I find very exciting. As long as I am working, I feel that I am still alive.

PAC World:  How do you balance your active professional life with your family life?

F.F.: I do care for my family life and I manage to give it a fair part of my time. As I get old I think that my family life is my main hobby. When I was younger, I used to follow the study of my two daughters. Now I follow the study of my four grandchildren.

PAC World:  What do you like to do when you are not working?

F.F.:  When I am not working, I like to read about economy, politics, as well as strolling in my club.

PAC World:  What is your favorite food?

F.F.: At my age, my food is rather limited as I am on a low fat diet. However, I like grilled fresh fish in addition to fresh fruits.

PAC World:  Do you have a favorite destination outside of Egypt?

F.F.: My favorite destination is the UK. I spent more than five years there, and it is where I developed my engineering knowledge. I also have many friends there, I know the country and I like to go there now and then.

PAC World:  Do you have a motto?

F.F.: I work so I am alive.

PAC World: Is there anything you would like to say to the young PAC engineers in your country and around the world?

F.F.: A short message to the futurist PAC engineers all around the world: The power systems are getting to be more and more complicated. System analysis is the guarantee to having properly designed systems. In operation too, system analysis is the tool to overcome any slips in settings of protection and automation or lack of necessary equipment that shall maintain continuity of supply under all unexpected conditions.

Armed with good education and experience, one should keep in mind that proper testing of protection and control is another requirement for secure systems.