The New Valley Mineral Resources and Oil Company (WADICO), an Egyptian mining firm, has signed a 15‑year agreement with Intro Utilities, one of Egypt’s largest energy and utilities investors, to expand solar energy use across its mining sites. The project will leverage Huawei Digital Power technology to ensure a reliable and sustainable electricity supply.
Under the agreement, Intro Utilities will finance the development of a 3.2 megawatt (MW) solar power station with battery storage, representing an investment of $3.5 million. The station will provide round‑the‑clock power for WADICO’s mining operations, reducing reliance on diesel generators and cutting emissions.
Huawei Digital Power will deliver the advanced solar and energy storage solutions, enabling WADICO to store electricity generated during the day and deploy it at night or during peak demand.
“This is the first cooperation with Huawei, and the two sides are also working on potential projects at additional sites using the same technology,” Reda Selim, Chairman and Managing Director of Wadico, told Egypt Oil& Gas.
Tony Bu, CEO of Huawei Egypt’s Digital Power Business, told Egypt Oil & Gas (EOG) that Huawei’s solar and power solutions can help mining companies optimize operating expenditure (OPEX), enhance energy reliability, and reduce environmental impact by integrating solar generation with advanced energy storage systems.
Bu highlighted growing interest in the mining sector, renewable energy, and digital power technologies, particularly solutions that can address the requirements of mining operations and provide reliable power in remote locations with limited access to the electricity grid.
“Mining is a 24/7 industry, so solar power alone cannot address the full energy requirement because generation naturally stops at night. This is where energy storage becomes critical. By storing the electricity generated during the day and deploying it when needed, battery energy storage systems can help maintain continuity of operations while reducing reliance on diesel generators,” Bu explained.
Bu concluded by emphasizing that Egypt remains a strategic market for Huawei’s Digital Power business, with the company committed to expanding its partnerships and projects across the country and leveraging digital power technologies to help businesses improve energy efficiency, reduce reliance on conventional power sources, and minimize their environmental impact.
The deal was signed on the sidelines of the Egypt Mining Forum (EMF) held in the New Capital on 28–29 September.
The current project is part of Wadico’s wider plan to integrate renewables into its mining activities. Selim noted that additional solar stations are expected at sites including Wadi Al‑Bator and Al‑Shagab.
