Executive-President of Egypt’s New and Renewable Energy Authority (NREA) Mohammed al-Khayat said on Sunday that the NREA had signed a soft loan agreement valued at JPY11.3 billion (approximately US$106 million) with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) to establish the first photo-voltaic system power plant a capacity of 20 Megawatt (MW) in Hurghada.

The new plant will store electricity through batteries during rush hours and feed the national network with electricity during night.

Khayat previewed the project with Minister of Electricity Mohammed Shaker, saying that the project will include an eco-friendly information center which will be run by renewable energy.

The center will be provided with modern equipment to train staff in the electricity field in both private and public sectors.

The center will also include a conference hall with a capacity of hosting 120 people.

Khyat pointed out that the NREA will select the project’s contractor through the public tender in September. The project is expected to produce electricity in 2019.

Edited translation from Al-Masry Al-Youm