Egypt has announced plans to construct solar plant across seven African countries as part of their commitment to help the continent in its development process and improve the renewable energy performances of those countries.
The Arab Organization for Industrialization (AOI), one of the largest industrial organisations in Egypt, will launch solar power plants in Uganda, Congo, Tanzania, Eritrea, Somalia, South Sudan, with capacities ranging from 2 to 4 megawatts.
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Energy in Africa
Egypt, which is already building one of the world’s largest and most ambitious solar energy projects, carried out the implementation and supply activities in cooperation with its Military Production Ministry while the seven countries identified the priority areas for the implementation of these stations.
The solar energy stations will be used in lighting and desalination through an Egyptian grant worth US $12m, Mohamed El Khayat, the renewable energy authority head said. The company hopes to be completed by 2020.
Mohamed El Khayat, the renewable energy authority head said that Egypt also decided to locate and design each station and carry out installation, construction and operation works. The African continent has been facing tough times with shortage of power. The frequent cuts in power supply have been having a toll on businesses and domestic consumers.
According to the African Development Bank (AfDB), the energy poverty in Africa is estimated to cost the continent 2-4 % GDP annually. It is estimated that in the Sahel region – Senegal, Nigeria, Mauritania, Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger, Chad, Sudan, and Eritrea, about 64% of the population lives without electricity, hindering economic and social development.
