Japan invests 11 million U.S. dollars to build photovoltaic power plant in Egypt

The Japanese Ministry of International Cooperation announced plans to build a solar power plant in Egypt. This project, known as the introduction of clean energy using solar power systems, plans to build a photovoltaic power plant. The power plant will be able to maintain the power demand of a sports centre, shopping malls and dormitories.

Japan will invest 11 million U.S. dollars as part of this "grand funding plan." The plant is expected to have a capacity of 420 kilowatts, which will reach 641,000 kilowatts after its official operation in 2012. Equipment transportation and technical support are mainly provided by the Japanese side, and Egypt is mainly responsible for equipment installation and preparation.

The project was submitted in April 2009 and approved in February 2010.

This project proves that the Fukushima nuclear spill and the expensive reconstruction of northern Japan have not weakened the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs' ability to invest in large-scale energy projects. “At present, Japan’s policy on nuclear energy has not changed, and Egypt’s project has nothing to do with the nuclear crisis because we signed an agreement with the Egyptian government long before the nuclear leak occurred,” said the head of the Japan Department of International Cooperation.

An employee of the Japan Department of International Cooperation overseeing another solar hybrid project in southern Cairo explained that renewable energy is playing an increasingly important role in the government’s energy strategy.

"Egypt's electricity demand is increasing rapidly at a rate of 10% a year, and the government seems very willing to meet people's demands," he said.

This solar hybrid project is Egypt's first project to combine solar energy and natural gas for power generation.