El-Sisi reviews 7,000-MW plan to raise Egypt clean power to 45% by 2028
This occurred during a meeting between President El-Sisi and Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly, Electricity and Renewable Energy Minister Mahmoud Esmat, and Presidential Adviser for Financial Affairs Ahmed El-Shazly to review renewable energy projects planned for implementation over the next two years and the state’s energy strategy through 2040, Presidential Spokesman Mohamed El-Shennawy said.
During the meeting, Minister Esmat outlined the government’s plan to reduce reliance on fossil fuels and expand renewable energy generation as part of Egypt’s sustainable development strategy, while also reviewing efforts to strengthen and modernize the national electricity grid.
The meeting followed progress on the second phase of the Obelisk solar power project in Nagaa Hammadi, with a capacity of 500 megawatts and scheduled to connect to the national electricity grid later this month.
Officials also reviewed developments in the 900-megawatt Ras Shokeir wind power project, which is expected to be connected to the grid in 2027 and a 1,700-megawatt solar power project in Minya governorate.
The discussions also covered plans to establish several connected and standalone energy storage stations in Minya, Alexandria, and Qena, with a total storage capacity of 4,000 megawatts to support grid stability and flexibility.
El-Sisi stressed the need to accelerate the implementation of projects and remove obstacles hindering progress to meet the specified construction and grid-connection timelines, according to the spokesman.
He also urged maximizing Egypt’s natural potential in solar and wind energy, describing renewable energy expansion as a key pillar of the country’s long-term sustainable development plan.
The meeting additionally reviewed partnerships with the private sector as part of the government’s strategy to rely on private investment as a “partner in success” in the renewable energy sector, particularly in the Jabal El-Zeit wind power complex, which has a total capacity of around 580 megawatts and is considered one of the largest wind farms in Egypt and Africa.
Esmat also reviewed efforts to localize the manufacturing of equipment and components used in renewable energy generation in Egypt.
The participants stressed the importance of expanding the use of renewable energy in factories by installing solar-cell systems for on-site electricity generation, describing the move as an important step toward diversifying electricity sources, easing load on the national grid, and supporting wider solar energy use.
El-Sisi reiterated the need for a carefully planned expansion of renewable energy projects, reduced dependence on conventional fuels, and a balanced energy mix reflecting Egypt’s ambition to become a leading regional hub for green energy.
He also directed the government to intensify efforts to attract investments into the energy sector to help achieve the country’s development targets and maximize the sector’s contribution to economic growth.
Egypt has accelerated investments in renewable energy and electricity infrastructure in recent years as it seeks to meet rapidly growing domestic power demand, reduce fuel import costs, and position itself as a regional hub for clean and green energy.
Egypt’s renewable energy expansion focuses primarily on solar and wind power projects in Upper Egypt, the Gulf of Suez, and Red Sea coastal areas, which benefit from some of the world’s highest solar irradiation levels and strong wind currents.
Egypt has pursued large-scale renewable energy investments through partnerships with Gulf, European, and international private-sector developers, supported by reforms that liberalized parts of the electricity market and encouraged private generation projects.
Among Egypt’s flagship renewable energy projects is the Benban Solar Park in Aswan, one of the world’s largest solar parks with a total capacity exceeding 1.4 gigawatts. The country has also expanded major wind farms in the Gulf of Suez and the Red Sea, including projects at Ras Ghareb, Gabal El-Zeit, and Ras Shokeir.