Egypt Daily News – The Egyptian Ministry of Electricity has announced a significant strategic shift regarding its energy generation approach, indicating that no new “gas, steam, and combined cycle” thermal electricity generation plants will be initiated until 2030. Instead, the focus will be on enhancing renewable energy projects, which will be primarily developed by the private sector.
According to sources from the Ministry, extensive studies have recently been conducted to project load and energy demand scenarios for the next six years.
The findings suggest that the existing power generation capacity will be adequate to meet future demands, negating the necessity for additional thermal generation capabilities in this timeframe.
Previously, there were plans to establish new thermal plants in collaboration with companies from Germany, France, and the United States. However, the current strategy emphasizes optimizing existing facilities and promoting renewable energy expansion.
Currently, Egypt’s total nominal electrical power capacity stands at approximately 59.4 gigawatts (GW), comprised of various energy sources:
- 2.843 GW from gas stations,
- 18.17 GW from steam stations,
- 32.2 GW from combined cycle plants,
- 2.831 GW from hydroelectric power,
- 1.632 GW from solar energy, and
- 1.632 GW from wind energy.
The production distribution indicates that combined cycle plants account for about 54.3% of electricity production, with steam and gas stations contributing 30.6% and 4.8%, respectively. Hydroelectric, solar, and wind sources represent smaller percentages—4.8%, 2.8%, and 2.7%, respectively.
Looking forward, the Ministry of Electricity seeks to diversify Egypt’s energy mix and aims for renewable energy sources to constitute over 42% of the total energy supply by 2035.
To achieve this ambitious goal, more than 6,000 MW of renewable energy is expected to be added within the next two years, with ongoing projects including solar and wind plants by various established companies like EMEA Power (a subsidiary of the UAE’s Al Nowais Group), Acwa Power from Saudi Arabia, Siemens, and a collaboration between Toyota and Orascom.
This strategic pivot not only showcases Egypt’s commitment to sustainable energy but also reflects a broader global trend of transitioning towards renewable sources.
