Egypt inaugurates Abydos 1 Kom Ombo Solar PV Park

CAIRO - 14 December 2024: Prime Minister Moustafa Madbouli inaugurated on Saturday Abydos 1 Solar PV Park project in Kom Ombo in Aswan governorate.

The premier was accompanied by Minister of Electricity and Renewable Energy Mahmoud Esmat, Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources Karim Badawi and Minister of Planning and International Cooperation Rania el Mashat, along with UAE Ambassador to Egypt Mariam al Kaabi.

Abydos Kom Ombo Solar PV Park is expected to generate 500MWh electricity and is considered a symbol of sustainability in Egypt.

The project is supporting action plans by the state to further depend on clean energy and implement the 2023 Sustainable Development Strategy. 

In his opening speech, Dr. Mostafa Madbouly, Prime Minister, said that it is my pleasure to participate in the opening of the Abydos solar power station, which expresses the strength of the relationship between Egypt and the UAE in various sectors, and confirms that Egypt provides an unprecedented opportunity for the private sector.

The Abydos solar power station in Aswan Governorate is being implemented by the Emirati company, AMEA Power. Madbouly expressed, in his remarks, that the project reflects the distinguished relationship between Egypt and the Emirates. 

He added during his speech at the opening of the Abydos solar power station: "Today we are witnessing the opening of the Abydos solar power station with a capacity of 500 megawatts, which is being implemented by the Emirati company AMEA Power in Aswan Governorate."

He also stressed that the Abydos station in Aswan confirms the state's orientation towards optimal dealing with Egypt's natural resources, saying, "The government has allocated the necessary funding to provide the fuel needed for the electricity grid and not resort to reducing loads again.

Dr. Mostafa Madbouly, Prime Minister, witnessed the signing of an agreement on the sidelines of the inauguration of the Abydos station in Aswan, which is an agreement to purchase power and make land available to implement a wind energy project with a capacity of 500 megawatts in Ras Shukheir in the Gulf of Suez, with investments estimated at $600 million.

During the inauguration, the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Emirati company "AMEA Power" Hussain Al-Nowais gave his speech, where he said that Abydos 1 Station Project is considered the largest of its kind in Africa, noting that the company was one of the first companies to engage strongly in implementing Egypt's Energy Strategy 2040.

"Abydos Solar Power Plant is a landmark of the renaissance witnessed by the Egyptian state under the leadership of President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, who was able, with his wisdom and insight and the efforts of the loyal sons of this great country, to overcome challenges and put the Egyptian economy on the path of stability, growth and prosperity,” Al-Nowais added. 

AMEA Power’s Chairman further announced the beginning of the engineering work in order to launch the Abydos 2 solar power station project.

At the inauguration ceremony Saturday, Dr. Mahmoud Esmat, Minister of Electricity and Renewable Energy, said “we are witnessing the opening of one of the renewable energy production stations in Egypt with a capacity of 500 megawatts in Aswan Governorate, which is the "Abydos 1" solar energy station, indicating that there is a second phase of the project with greater capacities.

The Minister of Electricity expressed his happiness and pride in implementing this giant project in cooperation with UAE, and extended his thanks and appreciation to the Prime Minister for the great support for the electricity sector.

Then, Dr. Rania Al-Mashat, Minister of Planning, Economic Development and International Cooperation, said that this project is among other projects that fall within the energy axis of the national platform of the "Novi" program, this platform that was launched at the COP 27 climate conference in Sharm El-Sheikh, and its aim is to mobilize soft financing to support the private sector in meeting Egypt's needs from nationally determined contributions.

The Chairman of the Board of Directors of "AMEA Power" pointed out that there are many Emirati companies that invest in various economic sectors in Egypt, including "AMEA Power", whose investments exceeded about 2 billion US dollars by the end of this year, through which it seeks to produce about 3,000 megawatts through five projects. He continued saying that this indicates the extent of the company's absolute conviction in the performance of the Egyptian economy and its belief in Egypt's enormous potential in the field of renewable energy.