CAIRO — Egypt is moving forward with the development of two solar power projects in Eritrea with combined capacity of 4 megawatts and investments exceeding $23 million, according to statements from Ministry of Electricity and Renewable Energy (Egypt) and officials cited in regional media.
The initiative follows recent discussions in Cairo between Egypt’s Minister of Electricity, Mahmoud Essmat, and Eritrean officials including Hagos Ghebrehiwet and Nassereddin Saleh, focusing on strengthening bilateral cooperation in energy infrastructure, according to an official Egyptian ministry statement.
The first project, with a capacity of 1 megawatt, has already seen its solar panels manufactured in Egypt by the Arab Organization for Industrialization, and is expected to be transported and installed in Eritrea in the coming phase. The second project, with a capacity of 3 megawatts, is currently undergoing site testing and will operate as an off-grid system supported by battery storage, providing electricity to areas not connected to national networks.
Egyptian authorities confirmed that the projects will be implemented by the Arab Organization for Industrialization, with technical oversight from the Egyptian electricity ministry to ensure compliance with operational standards. The initiative forms part of Cairo’s broader strategy to expand renewable energy cooperation across the Horn of Africa, including Eritrea, Somalia, and Djibouti.
According to data from the World Bank, only 54.4% of Eritrea’s population had access to electricity in 2023, underscoring the scale of the country’s energy access gap. Eritrean policy targets aim to increase the share of renewable energy to 20% of total generation by 2030, according to regional energy planning frameworks.
As The Middle East Observer notes, the projects highlight Egypt’s growing role as a regional exporter of renewable energy expertise and infrastructure, particularly in underserved markets where off-grid solutions are critical. The initiative also reflects a broader shift toward combining technology transfer with development-focused energy investments.
