Egypt opens Africa’s largest power plant

The plant was inaugurated on Saturday in Aswan, in the south of the country, as part of its efforts to boost renewable energy production and reduce power cuts.

This Abydos 1 photovoltaic power plant:

-cost $500 million;

-was financed by the International Finance Corporation /IFC/, the Dutch Bank FMO and the Japan International Cooperation Agency;

-has a capacity of 500 megawatts;

-should generate 1,500 gigawatt hours of energy per year;

-has the capacity to supply approximately 300,000 homes.

This solar power plant is an “essential step” in the production of renewable energy in Egypt, declared Prime Minister Moustafa Madbouly during the inauguration.

It is part of the national strategy aimed at reducing its dependence on traditional energy sources, according to him.

The Egyptian government plans to increase the share of renewable energy in its energy mix to 42% by 2030, compared to 11.5% last year, the Prime Minister said.