TAQA Arabia, Egypt’s leading private sector energy and utility provider, in partnership with Voltalia, one of the largest international companies in the sector of generating, operating, and supplying all types of renewable energy, has signed a non-binding Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Ministry of Electricity and Renewable Energy.
Represented by the Egyptian Electricity Transmission Company (EETC) and the New and Renewable Energy Authority (NREA), the MoU aims to study and explore the development of a pioneering 3.2 GW (wind/solar) power plant in Suez Governorate repowering Zafarana wind farm.
The signing ceremony was attended by Mostafa Madbouly, Prime Minister; Mahmoud Esmat, Minister of Electricity and Renewable Energy. Also, in attendance were Eric Chevallier, French Ambassador to Cairo, and several representatives from the Egyptian government including; Mona Rizk, Chairperson and Managing Director of The Egyptian Electricity Transmission Company (EETC), and Mohamed El-Khayat, Executive Chairman of the New and Renewable Energy Authority (NREA). From TAQA Arabia, Khaled AbuBakr – Chairman, Pakinam Kafafi – CEO and Samy Abdel Qader – Managing Director TAQA Power were present, From Voltalia Mr. Sebastien Clerc – CEO, Robert Klein Head of Latin America & North Africa and Eng. Karim El Azzawy, Voltalia’s Country Manager for Egypt and Jordan.
Originally commissioned by the Government of Egypt two decades ago, the Zafarana 545-megawatt wind farms were the first of their kind in the MENA region and a milestone in Egypt’s renewable energy journey. As the wind turbines will soon approach the end of their operational lives, a new strategy is needed to repower the site. Located 130 kilometers south-east of Cairo, Zafarana is one of the windiest sites in the entire MENA region; it also enjoys exceptional sun irradiation typical of the Sahara climate.
This strategic partnership between TAQA Arabia and Voltalia entails conducting preliminary technical and environmental measurements and studies to establish a fully integrated green power facility in Zaafrana. The plant will combine 1.1 GW of wind power with 2.1 GW of solar power, making it the first project in Egypt to merge both renewable energy sources. Key studies will include wind speed and direction measurements, bird migration patterns, solar irradiation levels, and geotechnical, topographic, and environmental evaluations. This initiative comes in line with Egypt’s national commitment to expand renewable energy sources and promote private sector involvement to reduce dependence on conventional power.
Pakinam Kafafi, CEO of TAQA Arabia, expressed her enthusiasm, stating: “This project represents a milestone in TAQA Arabia’s commitment to advancing green energy, aligning seamlessly with Egypt’s national sustainability vision. We are conducting pivotal studies in one of Egypt’s most promising regions for solar and wind power, laying the groundwork for transformative energy solutions. Our ongoing partnership with Voltalia is a testament to our shared ambitions, and we look forward to expanding this fruitful collaboration.”
For his part, Sébastien Clerc, CEO of Voltalia stated: “Signing this agreement is a crucial step towards supporting Egypt’s ambitious renewable energy goals, and we are honored to work on this landmark project. Our presence in Egypt, thanks to our operating project within the Benban solar cluster, and our experience with hybrid wind-and-solar projects, such as in our Serra Branca cluster in Brazil, enables us to build upon Zafarana’s legacy with confidence to bring more clean energy to the Egyptian grid”.
It’s worth mentioning that this non-binding MoU represents an initial step to assess technical and environmental viability, with study completion anticipated by December 2025. The outcomes will provide critical insights for future development phases.
