First plant in Benban’s solar park to start production this week

CAIRO – 10 March 2018: The first solar plant in the world’s largest solar park, Benban Solar Park, will start production with 50MW this week, Ahmed Fathy of the Egyptian Electricity Transmission Co. (EETC) said Saturday.

He said that the “infinity” plant will be the first to be connected to the unified grid of the park.

Fathy added that “Fas” plant will start production gradually in the coming months, saying that all plants in the park will operate by 2019.

Egypt is constructing the world’s largest solar park in Benban, near Aswan governorate, which will contain 32 power plants.

When all plants are completed in 2019, they will be capable of generating a combined 1,650 megawatts of electricity, enough to power hundreds of thousands of homes and businesses.

In October, the International Finance Corporation (IFC), a member of the World Bank Group, finalized a landmark $653 million debt package to finance the construction of 13 solar power plants.

During construction, the projects will create 6,000 jobs and over 350,000 residential customers are expected to benefit from the cost-effective and eco-friendly power that will be generated.

Also in October, The UK’s government-owned development finance institution CDC Group announced investing $97 million in the park.

The plants are estimated to cost a total of $823 million to build.