The Egyptian government plans to launch a solar cell plant and a photovoltaic plant, in cooperation with China, said a report.

The Arab Consulting Office (ACO) provided a feasibility study for the construction of an integrated industrial complex for the production of solar cells, added the Daily News Egypt report.

Salah Ibrahim, technical director at ACO, said that the cost of constructing the industrial complex is $2.35 billion, including $200 million for the silicon plant, $750 million for the polysilicon plant, $750 million for the chip mill, $150 million for the cells plant, and $80 million to set up a glass factory, in addition to $400 million for a power plant and $20 million to set up a plastic plant.

The plants are expected to produce cells that can generate 1,000 MW of power.

The construction of the industrial complex will take between two and four years and requires a land area of about 3.5m sq m.  

Among the proposed sites for construction of the project are the Suez Canal Economic Zone (SCZone) and South Sinai.

According to the expected positive results of the project, it will contribute to the provision of a local high quality product that will substitute for similar imported products, thus increasing the export opportunities and contributing to the provision and increase of foreign exchange reserves in Egypt, added the report.