37% of energy will be from renewable sources by 2035: Minister of Electricity

CAIRO – 25 July 2017: New and renewable energy is to be used in Egypt and 20 percent of the energy needs to come from renewable sources by the year 2022, 37 percent by the year 2035, Minister of Electricity Mohamed Shaker said at the fourth National Youth Conference in Alexandria on Monday.

As 42 percent of the world’s energy production comes from “clean coal” technology, Shaker added that the Al Hamrawain plant to be constructed in the Red Sea governorate will be responsible for producing renewable energy from clean coal.

During the conference Shaker highlighted that Upper Egypt still suffers from problems with electricity as there are no power stations between Asyut to Aswan, and these regions only rely on electricity from transmission power lines.

Confirming that the ministry is working to strengthen the transmission lines, Shaker stated that 6,882 megawatts were used in 2015, which is a very big number compared with previous years when it never exceeded 2,500 MW.

“Anyone who has practical opinions that may benefit the field of power is welcome to meet me personally, and we are willing to support his research if it leads to good results,” Shaker added.

Concerning recent decisions, including the rise in electricity prices, Shaker said they were essential to survive the current slump, describing them as drugs with an unpleasant taste.

Shaker said there are specialists studying Egyptian families affected by the recent decisions. Youth understand the situation, and the results will be great very soon, he added.

Shaker previously announced in a press conference on July 6 that the new prices of electricity according to consumption rate by month, increasing between 15 percent and 42 percent for citizens, is to be applied starting from July, with no exception.

The National Youth Conference is scheduled to kick off every three months as decided previously by the president during its launch in October 2016.