15 November 2015

The largest wind farm in Africa has opened on the shores of Egypt's Gulf of Al-Zayt, reports Nesmahar Sayed

The 200-megawatt (MW) wind farm was completed within the framework of development cooperation in renewable energy. The Ministry of Electricity and Renewable Energy led the project, partnering with the German development bank KfW, the European Union (EU), and the European Investment Bank (EIB).

The project is part of a long-term strategy to utilise the country's enormous renewable energy potential. The total budget of the project is 340 million euros. The EU granted 30 million euros to the total budget while the German Development Cooperation, through KfW, made a loan of 191.5 million euros, and the EIB lent another 50 million euros.

"The new wind farm will increase Egyptian wind-installed capacity by 35 per cent, which will decrease carbon emissions by 400,000 tons per year," said James Moran, head of the EU delegation to Egypt.

The project, part of a larger national programme, aims to address Egypt's energy needs by promoting the use of renewable energy and capitalising on the country's potential for wind and solar power generation.

A second 200-MW wind farm, located along the Gulf of Suez, is under construction and is scheduled for completion in 2016. The project is co-funded by the German Development Cooperation through KfW, the EU, the EIB and the French Development Agency (AFD).

© Al Ahram Weekly 2015