Egypt's Solar Power Project

Online, June 28, 2013 (Newswire.com) - The plant, called Kuryamatt, is a 150 megawatt hybrid power plant, which will use solar energy and natural gas to generate the country's electricity. The project is located 90km south of Cairo, and there are already plans for a second large solar plant in Upper Egypt's Kom Ombo area.

The idea to use natural and environmentally sound means of generating electricity was realised when Egypt experienced severe power cuts during the hot months of summer during the Ramadan period.

The project will cost 5.5 billion Egyptian pounds, and is to be funded by groups such as the Clean Energy Fund, The World Bank and The African Development Bank. These organizations have stressed the importance that the project is as environmentally and socially sound as possible.

The project makes perfect sense, in a land which is 94% desert and receives a lot of sunlight, why not solve the problems of power shortages with the greatest natural resource? Minister of Energy Ahmed Imam said "the government is preparing for the establishment of a solar power plant at the Kom Ombo region in Aswan within the framework of a strategy designed to diversify energy sources as an implementation of the ministry's plan, which provides for expanding the use of solar energy" A recent report from the Ministry of Electricity and Energy stated the plant will produce 100MW.

Supported by the UN's Clean Development Mechanism, the plant's capacity will be added to the national grid to help meet the development process and the electrical loads evolution. This is a great step forward taken by Egypt to consider solar energy and the plant will also aid Egypt's economy as it will create numerous jobs.