Egypt’s first solar power station will operate at full capacity in 2010, state news agency Mena reported on Monday.
The agency quoted Minister of Electricity Hassan Younes saying the station, located just south of Cairo in Koraymat, would have a capacity of 140 megawatts.
The power station is part of a larger facility that also includes three non-solar units and is expected to generate 2 900 megawatts once it comes onstream.
Younes said the project was already connected to the national electricity distribution grid, adding that 99% of Egypt’s population was connected to the grid, the highest rate in Africa.
Egypt aims to generate 20% of its power from renewable sources by 2020.
Officials say Egypt’s combined oil and gas reserves will last the country for roughly three more decades. — Reuters