Ahmed Kamel – Egypt Daily News
Egypt has taken a major step toward strengthening its renewable energy manufacturing base with the laying of the foundation stone for the ATUM Solar integrated industrial complex in the Ain Sokhna area, part of the Suez Canal Economic Zone. The project represents total investments of $220 million, equivalent to about EGP 10.5 billion, and is one of the largest industrial initiatives in the field of solar energy technologies in the country.
The ceremony was attended by Deputy Prime Minister for Industrial Development and Minister of Industry and Transport Kamel El-Wazir, alongside Walid Gamal El-Din, Chairman of the General Authority of the Suez Canal Economic Zone. The complex will be developed within the TEDA Egypt industrial zone in Ain Sokhna, covering a total area of 200,000 square meters.
ATUM Solar is being established through a multinational partnership involving companies from four countries. China’s JA Solar is participating as the technical investor, alongside Egypt’s AH Industrial Management, the UAE-based Global South Utilities, and Bahrain’s Infinity Capital. The project reflects growing regional and international confidence in Egypt as a hub for advanced manufacturing and clean energy industries.
The integrated complex will include a factory for solar cell production with a capacity of 2 gigawatts, a solar panel manufacturing facility with a similar capacity of 2 gigawatts, and a plant for energy storage systems with a capacity of 1 gigawatt-hour. Once operational, the project is expected to create around 850 direct job opportunities.
According to project plans, all production from the solar cell factory will be exported to global markets, reinforcing Egypt’s position within international renewable energy supply chains. Meanwhile, output from the energy storage systems plant will primarily serve domestic demand, in addition to selected regional markets. The project also aims to gradually increase local content by relying on domestically produced aluminum and glass as key production inputs.
The foundation stone ceremony was attended by several senior officials and business leaders, including Suez Governor Tarek El-Shazly, UAE Ambassador to Cairo Hamad Al-Zaabi, TEDA Egypt Managing Director Tsao Hui, AH Industrial Management Chairman and ATUM Solar Egypt founder Ahmed Abu Hashima, Global South Utilities CEO Ali Al-Shammari, and a representative of JA Solar.
Speaking at the event, Minister Kamel El-Wazir emphasized that the Egyptian state places strong importance on localizing industry and deepening local manufacturing, particularly in future-oriented sectors such as new and renewable energy. He said the project aligns with Egypt’s national economic development narrative under Vision 2030, which aims to position the country as a global center for the production and trading of green energy.
El-Wazir highlighted Egypt’s competitive advantages, including its extensive renewable energy resources, growing electricity interconnection networks with regional and international partners, and rising global demand for clean energy. He also stressed the pivotal role of infrastructure projects in supporting industrial growth and improving the overall investment climate.
For his part, Walid Gamal El-Din said the ATUM Solar complex represents a significant addition to the Suez Canal Economic Zone’s efforts to localize green energy industries and develop fully integrated value chains, spanning solar cells, panels, and energy storage systems. He noted that the authority is committed to supporting Egypt’s transition toward a green economy in line with global trends toward environmental, economic, and social sustainability.
Gamal El-Din added that the Economic Zone remains open to partnerships with investors from around the world, citing its strategic location at the crossroads of global trade, access to international and free trade agreements, availability of skilled labor, and strong integration between industrial zones and seaports. Together, these factors, he said, enhance export potential and strengthen logistics and industrial services, positioning the zone as a key driver of Egypt’s green industrial transformation.
