28 companies execute construction of plants, projects to kick off next year
Benban witnessed dense presence by companies, investors, and contractors working on the implementation of the solar power stations. Daily News Egypt witnessed the preparations and installation procedures for 28 of the 32 pieces designated for the establishment of the power plants to output energy of 1,432 MW.
Infinity Solar, ACWA Power, Alfanar, and Acciona have all completed most of constructions and will soon complete the stations.The first company has installed solar cells and is now preparing to link its plant’s production to the grid. The second and third companies are in advanced stages of installation of the cells,while the fourth company has completed digging and started installation procedures.
The Saudi FAS Energy is behind schedule in its works.The company is tasked with the public constructions of Sterling and Wilson Pvt. Ltd. of India.A source in the company said that the project is expected to be completed and linked to grid within two months.
The Egyptian Electric Utility and Consumer Protection Regulatory Agency (Egypt ERA) has fined FAS Energy for its delay in constructing a 50 MW plant in Benban,Aswan.
The decision includes fines of $35,000 per day beginning from August until the project’s completion.
According to the energy purchase agreement signed by the company in the first phase of the feed-in tariff projects, companies are subject to a fine of $700 per 1 MW daily if they fall behind schedule until the completion of the plant.
FAS Energy is one of two companies that signed the energy purchase agreement in the first phase of the feed-in tariff project to sell energy at 14.3 cents per 1 kW.The first company has not been able to complete the project on time, while the second company completed the project on time.
Infinity Solar’s Human Resources Director, Hisham El-Gamal, said that the company would complete the construction work of the 130 MW power plants within two months at most, and will begin linking the production to the grid and initiate operational tests in the first quarter of next year.
He pointed out that the implementation of stations is carried out in cooperation with the German IB Vogt company, which assigned the installation works to Conicon.
He explained that all officials, financing bodies, and service management companies are cooperating to remove any obstacles faced by Arab and international companies in the project site,to ensure quick response to investors’ requests in order to provide checkpoints and mobile security so as to secure the project site.
It was not different for Saudi’s ACWA Power.Hisham Saleh,marketing director of China’s Chint Company, the contractor for the company, said that they will finish the constructions of a 50 MW power plant in February, then, after three months, finish another 50 MW plant. “All projects will be working in full capacity in the first half of next year,” he added.
He explained that Chint is interested in the solar energy projects in Benban, and is ready to cooperate with the companies that have not begun constructions or preparations.
Mohamed El-Delaey, head of projects management in Desert Technologies, said that the company expects constructions and commercial operations for a 50 MW power plant to be completed and linked to grid in May 2019.
He stressed that the projects attracted Arab and international companies to invest in the renewable energy sector in Egypt, noting that a large number of investors are looking for opportunities for mergers or partnerships, or to buy shares in projects.
Medhat Ramadan, chairperson of the Egyptian German Electrical Manufacturing Company (EGMAC), said that they have completed the construction of switching substations in Benban to transfer the energy from solar power plants to the grid, where three plants have already been launched,while a fourth company will follow within days.