Under the blazing summer sun, Chinese and Egyptian workers collaborate at the Benban Solar Energy Park, a beacon of Egypt's ambition to become a regional clean energy leader. Spanning 37 square kilometers in Aswan's desert, the park aims for an impressive 2 gigawatts of installed capacity.
Li Fengyi, vice director of MENA renewable power plants at Asia-Africa Green Energy Investment Limited (CTG Asia-Africa), shared, \"We have five projects with a total installed capacity of 321 megawatts in the park, making us the second-largest investor here.\" All solar panels in CTG Asia-Africa projects are manufactured in China, reinforcing the company's commitment to leveraging Egypt's vast solar potential.
The Egyptian Ministry of Electricity and Renewable Energy highlighted that the solar power plant will significantly ramp up the nation's renewable energy usage, potentially reducing global greenhouse gas emissions by 2 million tonnes of carbon dioxide annually.
Beyond energy, the Chinese projects are a catalyst for local economic growth. Ahmed Kamal, a site manager, relocated to Aswan with his family for the job, noting, \"The projects have created thousands of jobs, especially during construction, supporting many residents of Benban and Aswan.\" Mohammed Hussein, a 39-year-old employee from Benban, added, \"I'm very much satisfied with my work here, and I hope to continue working for the Chinese projects in the future.\" The initiatives have not only provided stable incomes but also spurred development in surrounding areas, enhancing the quality of life for local residents.
Reference(s):
Chinese company helps galvanize Egypt's clean energy development
cgtn.com
