The Egyptian government has announced plans to develop two new hydroelectric projects as part of its strategy to shift towards cleaner energy sources and reduce reliance on fossil fuels.
These upcoming projects aim to generate up to 2,000 MW of electricity and will use water from the Nile River, in contrast to the Jabal Ataqa project, which utilizes treated sewage water. The Jabal Ataqa initiative, launched in collaboration with the Chinese company Sinohydro in 2019, aims for a capacity of up to 2,400 MW with an investment of approximately $2.7 billion.
The new hydroelectric ventures highlight Egypt’s commitment to diversifying its energy mix and increasing its renewable energy capacity. Featuring advanced pumping and storage systems, these projects represent a significant investment of $2.5 billion.
Currently, hydroelectric power is Egypt’s largest source of clean electricity, accounting for 7%. Wind and solar energy are beginning to grow, comprising 5% of the country’s electricity in 2023, a notable increase from 1% in 2015. Nevertheless, this figure remains below both the global average of 13% and Africa’s regional average of 6%.
Over the past two decades, Egypt’s electricity demand has more than doubled, resulting in a significant rise in emissions from the power sector. This demand has largely been met by fossil gas, which now constitutes 84% of Egypt’s electricity mix. The country aims to achieve 42% renewable electricity by 2030, while the International Energy Agency’s Net Zero Emissions scenario sets a global target of 60% renewable electricity by the same year.
