Aswan solar power project brightens Egypt’s energy outlook

Menna A. Farouk

Apr 3, 2017

The sun sets over the Nile River in Aswan 1,000 kms south of Cairo on May 13, 2010. Four African countries signed on May 14, 2010 a new treaty on the equitable sharing of the Nile waters despite strong opposition from Egypt and Sudan who have the lion's share of the river waters. AFP PHOTO/AMGAD FOUAD (Photo credit should read AMGAD FUAD/AFP/Getty Images) — The sun sets over the Nile River in Aswan, Egypt, May 13, 2010. — AMGAD FUAD/AFP/Getty Images

About 25 miles north of Egypt’s southern governorate of Aswan, dozens of workers are racing against time to complete the North African country’s largest and first-of-its-kind grid-connected solar power park.

The $3.5 billion project, which is located in Aswan’s village of Benban, consists of 41 solar power plants with a total capacity of 1.8 gigawatts. The project began in 2015 and will be completed by 2018.