In a major step toward strengthening Egypt’s position in renewable energy, Orascom Construction, listed on the Egyptian Stock Exchange, announced the commercial operation of Africa’s largest wind farm, six months ahead of schedule. Located in the Ras Ghareb region on the Red Sea coast, this massive project marks a significant achievement in Egypt’s efforts to transition to clean energy and reduce reliance on fossil fuels.
Developed by the “Red Sea Wind Energy” coalition under a 25-year Build-Own-Operate (BOO) model, the project involves leading international companies, including France’s Engie (35%), Orascom Construction (25%), and Japan’s Toyota Tsusho and Euros Energy (20% each). This diversity of expertise and technology accelerated project execution, overcoming logistical and technical challenges.
The current phase includes a 500-megawatt production capacity out of a total 650 megawatts, which will be fully operational upon completion of all phases. The wind farm is expected to generate enough clean energy to power over one million Egyptian households, reducing carbon dioxide emissions by 1.5 million tons annually—a key step toward achieving environmental sustainability and reducing Egypt’s carbon footprint.
For future expansion, the coalition has begun evaluating a new 900-megawatt wind farm project near the current site, with land recently allocated by the Egyptian government. This aligns with a national strategy to diversify energy sources and increase the share of renewables in the energy mix to over 40% by 2030.
Beyond wind energy, Orascom Construction is expanding its presence in renewable energy and water, managing projects totaling 912 megawatts in Egypt, the UAE, and Saudi Arabia. In March, Orascom signed a contract with Spain’s Tecnicas Reunidas to build a 3-gigawatt gas power plant in eastern Saudi Arabia.
This landmark project reaffirms Egypt’s commitment to sustainable energy infrastructure and serves as a successful model for public-private partnerships, opening promising prospects for renewable energy investments in the region.
