Egypt Secures $66 Million for Landmark Industrial Solar Project

With a $66 million financing package approved by the African Development Bank, Egypt is set to break ground on a 500-megawatt solar facility in the Qena Governorate. The project marks a major shift for industrial energy, pairing large-scale photovoltaic power with a 100MWh battery system to supply the Aluminium Company of Egypt.

Editorial·July 14, 2026·reads: 1,180

Egypt Secures $66 Million for Landmark Industrial Solar Project

The total investment for the Dandara project exceeds $290 million, bolstered by a consortium of development finance institutions alongside the Bank’s $46 million in ordinary resources and $20 million in concessional funds. The facility will operate under a 25-year Power Purchase Agreement with EgyptAlum, utilizing a wheeling agreement with the Egyptian Electricity Transmission Company to stabilize supply.

Operations are slated to begin in 2028, with an annual output of 1,373 gigawatt-hours. Beyond energy reliability, the project targets a reduction of 500,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions annually. This transition is critical for EgyptAlum, as it seeks to maintain European market competitiveness against the backdrop of the EU’s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism. By integrating battery storage, the plant will mitigate intermittency issues and provide consistent power during peak evening hours, while creating 2,500 jobs during the construction phase.