"The electricity sector in Egypt has started to take measures to establish a Solar Photovoltaic Power Plant, the first ever, in Kom Ombo in Aswan", said Minister of Electricity - Hassan Younis.

Younis said the Station will work at 100-megawatt capacity and will cost 4 million Egyptian pounds.

He added that the Power Plant will be financed by the Clean Development Fund and the African Development Fund.

Egypt aims to generate 20 percent of its power from renewable sources by 2020. Solar projects have lagged behind wind, but the country's first Solar Plant at Koraymat, south of Cairo, is scheduled for completion this year.

That first Plant involves 120 megawatt (MW) of conventional generation, using Natural Gas and 20 MW of Solar Power.

The second Solar Power Project at Kom Ombo, further south and near the Aswan High Dam Hydro-Electric pPant, would only use Photovoltaic Power and would have 100 MW capacity, Ministry Undersecretary - Aktham Abou el Ella told Reuters.

Abou el Ella said that the Kom Ombo Project was part of a five-year plan, running from 2012-2017. elaborating on comments made by the Minister and carried by the official MENA news agency. (MENA, SIS, UKPA, Reuters)

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