Aswan solar complex undergoes 2nd phase in November

CAIRO – 21 October 2017: The second construction phase of the grid-connected solar power complex project in Aswan will be carried out starting in November, senior electrical engineer Ibrahim Zaher told Egypt Today in an interview.

Zaher, CEO of the company executing the project, said representatives from the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) visited the project sites and commended on the efforts exerted and the commitment given to the accomplishment of the project.

EBRD is providing the project with a matching conventional loan facility.

The $3.5 billion project, located in Aswan’s village of Benban, has a total capacity of 1.8 gigawatts. Aswan was chosen to host the mega project due to its perfect solar location.

Benban’s solar power project is considered to be one of the largest solar generation facilities in the world. The project’s purpose is to contribute to Egypt’s energy self-sufficiency.

Egypt has been pumping in billions of pounds to meet the dramatic increase in power demand by upgrading, modernizing and expanding its power infrastructure and networks.

The project would create around 20,000 job opportunities over four years, with priority to city’s inhabitants.

A total of 39 local and international developers were chosen by the Egyptian government to start solar power plants in Benban after they had met the first round of the government’s requirements.

Egyptian company Infinity Solar and German-based companies ib vogt GmbH and Solizer GmbH & Co. KG

announced

on March that they secured a 64.1 megawatt peak (MWp) solar power plant project in Benban.

According to Zaher, the energy generated by the solar power plants will be directly transferred to the national power grid; it is estimated that the project will generate power equal 90 percent of the electricity generated by the High Dam.

The High Dam, built across the Nile in Aswan, powers twelve generators, each rated at 175 megawatts, with a total generation of 2.1 gigawatts. It has been generating power since 1967.

The Benban project began in 2015 and is set to be completed by 2018.

Abdullah Salah contributed to this report