Name and Location
Kom Ombo solar photovoltaic (PV) power plant, Kom Ombo, Egypt.

Project Description
The project involves the construction of a 100-MW solar PV power plant at Kom Ombo, in Aswan, in southern Egypt. The facility will be located in close proximity to the existing Aswan High dam hydroelectric plant. Further, the project forms part of a five-year plan, which is designed to establish the country as one of the leading developers of solar energy in North Africa.

The project will be the nation's second large-scale solar power project, after the El Kuraimat solar-thermal power plant, located in the south of Cairo. The unit will produce 20 MW of solar power alongside 120 MW of conventional natural gas power on completion by the end of 2010.

Most of Egypt's power demand is currently catered for by natural-gas-fired power stations, with a small percentage procured from large-scale hydroelectric plants on the Nile delta. The government proposes to generate 20% of its power from renewable sources by 2020, through both wind- and solar-based solutions. In addition, the country is keen to export the solar output generated by the project to southern Europe, as part of the high-profile Desertec initiative.

Value
The project is valued at $700-million, and it will be financed by a number of international institutions, including the African Development Fund and the World Bank. Additional finance is also expected to come from the United Nations Clean Development Mechanism carbon offsetting scheme.

Duration
The plant will be constructed over a five-year period, from 2012 to 2017.

Client
The Ministry of Electricity and Energy.

Key Contracts and Suppliers
World Bank (finance).

Latest Developments
Egypt's Ministry of Electricity and Energy has secured $270-million from the World Bank to fund the project. The country, which has about 25 000 MW of power capacity, has suffered consistent power outages throughout this year and plans to invest between $100-billion and $120-billion to triple capacity by 2027. The $270-million includes a $100-million investment by the Clean Technology Fund, which is affiliated with the World Bank, and a $170-million loan from the bank itself.

On Budget and on Time?
Too early to state.

Contact Details for Project Information
Ministry of Electricity and Energy, tel +20 2 2261 6317/6514, fax +20 2 2261 6302 or email info@moee.gov.eg.