Khayat:Clean energy ensures compliance with Egypt’s vision 2030

Head of the New and Renewable Energy Authority Mohamed El-Khayat said that in a glance to the past the renewable energy has been used since the Ancient Egyptian

Head of the New and Renewable Energy Authority Mohamed El-Khayat said that in a glance to the past the renewable energy has been used since the Ancient Egyptian civilization as having a strong relation with the sun; the natural element. 

He added, in an interview with (Exclusive with Taghreed Hussein) that starting from the 1960s and Egypt began building the Aswan High Dam to generate electricity from a renewable source which is hydro in addition to the concentration on the solar and wind resources. In 1986 using solar energy started by pilot projects to understand the technology, he mentioned other commercial projects such as the Zafarana solar plant with around eight projects constructed 140 MW.

However, El-Khayat stressed that in 2014 Egypt witnessed a rebound by having a political will which had been addressed through issuing the first Renewable Energy Law no. 203/2014. By this law, he illustrated, a clear cooperation is set between the public sector represented by the Ministry of Electricity, Egyptian Electricity Transmission Company and the New and Renewable Energy Authority in addition to the private sector which is represented by local and international investors.

By drawing a comparison, Eng. Mohamed El-Khayat conveyed that the projects already installed within the last five years almost with the same capacity as those established during the last 30 or 40 years. Such work represents the will to make ultimate use of the natural resources and maximize the role of renewable energy as the wind and sun.

The renewable energy is a green energy, he said, stressing that there is no emissions or consumption of the fossil fuel which Egypt used, the cleaner kind of it; the natural gas. We are gifted with underground natural gas, he mentioned, as the huge exploration of Zohr gas field. President Abdel Fattah e-Sisi issued directives for the expansion of using natural gas not only for the industrial sector but also for the residential and transportation sectors.

Egypt exploited the hydroelectric power, one of the oldest and largest sources of renewable energy, in the High Dam and Aswan Dam 1and 2, he said.

As for solar energy, the head of the New and Renewable Energy Authority referred to Benban solar complex in Aswan as one of the iconic international projects, believing that hosting such a project Aswan could become the capital for renewable energy.

Benban solar park is a power complex of 41 solar power plants being developed in Benban, located in the Aswan governorate.

Implementing such huge projects is a challenge, Eng. Mohamed El-Khayat said because they are carrying out 32 projects at the same time with more than 100 companies and 10 000 employees working in the same area of 37 sq km. However, this represents a positive message regarding the confidence in the investment environment in Egypt as we speak about projects that will sustain for almost 25 years.

Egypt’s Vision 2030 aims to achieve a diversified, competitive and balanced economy within the framework of sustainable development.