European Investment Bank (EIB) to back 200 MW Egypt wind farm

The European Investment Bank (EIB) and the Arab Republic of Egypt have signed a loan agreement of EUR115m for the construction of a wind farm in the Gulf of Suez.

The windfarm will contribute to meet growing electricity demand using sustainable wind energy.

In the presence of Sahar Nasr, Minister of Investment and International Cooperation and European Union Delegation Chargé d’Affairs, Reinhold Brender, the financing agreements were signed in Cairo today by Heinz Olbers, EIB Director of operations in the Neighbourhood Countries and Dr. Engineer Mohamed Mousa Omran Executive Chairman of New and Renewable Energy Authority.

“The EIB is proud to finance the Gulf of Suez windfarm which contributes to environmental sustainability and climate change mitigation. The project is in line with the Bank’s objective to provide more finance to renewable energy projects. The European Investment Bank is the world’s largest financier of climate action; last year we provided EUR 20.7 billion for climate related investment across Europe and around the world.” said Heinz Olbers, European Investment Bank’s Director of operations in the Neighbourhood Countries.

The Gulf of Suez windfarm project involves the design, construction and commissioning of a large-size  onshore wind farm of about 200MW located on the west bank of the Gulf of Suez, some 400 km southeast of Cairo with up to 100 turbines will be installed. The site, of a size of around about 57 km², is characterised by its arid desert conditions and has very favourable wind resources.

The project is financed by European Finance Institutions; European Investment Bank (EUR 115 million), KfW (EUR 72 million, including a EUR10.5m grant), Agence Française de Développement (EUR 50 million) and the New and Renewable Energy Authority. The European Commission provides a grant of EUR 30 million to the project.

EIB’s lending activities in the Mediterranean region in general and Egypt in particular are based on a Mandate from the European Union – the External Lending Mandate (ELM) currently covering the period 2014/2020 – through which the Bank works together with the EU and the government of Egypt to support socio-economic development in the country.