Access Infra Africa, a wholly owned subsidiary of Access Power MEA, and its consortium partner Eren, a leading global investor in power projects, have been prequalified by Egypt’s Ministry of Electricity and Energy to develop large scale wind and solar power plants in the country.

The projects will be part of the first round of Egypt’s renewable energy procurement programme, a statement said.

In total, the ministry expects to sanction $6 billion in combined investments in the solar and wind sector over the next three years, resulting in 2,300 MW of solar PV power plants and 2,000 MW of wind farms.

Access is aiming to build a renewable energy portfolio of 300 MW in Egypt. The firm will finalise the size of its investment by the end of the first quarter of 2015 once the Ministry of Electricity provides further clarifications about its procurement strategy, it said.

Stephane Bontemps, managing director of Access, said: “Egypt is poised to become the largest market for solar and wind power projects in Mena by 2017. We are delighted to be part of this exciting story and to help bring Egypt’s vast potential for renewable energy to life.”

In December 2014, Access was awarded the contract to build, own and operate the first solar power plant in Uganda, a 10 megawatt peak (MWp) solar photovoltaic facility in Soroti, Northeastern Uganda.  Once complete, the plant will be the largest privately owned solar PV project in Africa excluding South Africa. - TradeArabia News Service