The government is weighing a USD 1 bn integrated quartz-to-panel solar plant in Zafarana

Not the primary: The Zafarana plant joins a similar project already underway in New Alamein. This website, run by Alamein for Silicon Merchandise, lined up a USD 140 mn financial institution mortgage earlier this yr to show native silica sand into the high-purity silicon wanted for photo voltaic cells.

Why it issues: Bringing photo voltaic manufacturing to Zafarana, the nation’s wind-energy capital, indicators a significant shift towards hybrid energy technology. Extra importantly, native manufacturing addresses the largest bottleneck for home builders: roughly 70% of solar project costs are presently denominated in USD as a result of imported panels and cells.

IN CONTEXT- There’s a Chinese language-led photo voltaic FDI wave concentrated within the Suez Canal Financial Zone (SCZone). In January, China’s Elite Photo voltaic inaugurated its USD 116 mn photo voltaic part factories in Sokhna. In the meantime, Atum Photo voltaic broke floor on a USD 220 mn advanced last December to supply an annual 2 GW every of photo voltaic cells and modules, plus 1 GWh of battery storage methods. They’re joined by Sunrev Photo voltaic, which is constructing a USD 200 mn integrated solar component complex. Chinese language glassmaker Kibing Group can also be planning a USD 685 mn solar panel glass factory in Sokhna to localize the heavy glass sheets that make up most of a panel’s weight.

On exports: The state-backed Arab Group for Industrialization (AOI) is establishing a USD 200-300 mn factory with Sweden’s Sunshine Professional to export 1 GW of panels to Europe yearly. AOI can also be engaged on a separate USD 100 mn solar factory with Omani traders to feed Gulf markets.

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