Shaker to inaugurate Benban’s 1st solar plant in January

CAIRO – 31 December 2017: The Minister of Electricity Mohamed Shaker will inaugurate the first solar plant with a planned total capacity of 50 megawatts in Benban City, Aswan, in mid-January 2018, an informed source stated on Sunday.

The source told Egypt Today that Benban city is considered the capital of the world in solar energy because it has the largest number of solar power plants with a capacity of 2000 megawatts, pointing out that the capabilities of these stations exceed the capacity of the High Dam.

The station will be linked with the national grid of electricity after conducting the operation tests for the entire station.

On Saturday, President Abdel Fatah al-Sisi met with acting Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly and Minister of Electricity and Renewably Energy Mohamed Shaker, where Shaker presented the ministry’s integrated strategy for major power plant projects, saying that the ministry’s target is to ensure that 20 percent of energy use comes from renewable energy by 2022, a statement said.

Shaker added that the power plant in the new capital is being connected with the main electric network, and that work will be completed, according to the deadlines, by mid-2018. He also stated that the power plant is valuable to the network, as it will produce 4,800 megawatts and offer 8,000 job opportunities.