AMEA Power has announced the commissioning of a 500MW wind power plant in Ras Ghareb, Egypt. According to the company, the move makes the Amunet Wind Power Plant the largest operational wind farm in Africa.
The new facility follows the recent launch of AMEA Power’s 500MW solar photovoltaic (PV) plant in Aswan, Egypt, bringing the company’s total commissioned capacity in the country to 1GW within six months.
A joint venture between AMEA Power, holding a 60% stake, and Sumitomo Corporation with 40%, the Amunet Wind Power Plant is projected to produce around 2,500 gigawatt-hours (GWh) of electricity annually. This output is sufficient to supply power to over 500,000 homes and is expected to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 1.4 million tonnes each year.
The construction phase of the project employed over 800 workers at its peak. It was completed 2.5 months ahead of schedule.
AMEA Power chairman Hussain Al Nowais said: “The commissioning of the 500MW Wind Power Plant in the Red Sea Governorate, marks a significant milestone for AMEA Power, and for Egypt.
“Bringing 1GW of clean energy online in such a short period is a tremendous achievement and a reflection of our deep commitment to delivering impactful renewable energy solutions. This is the future of power generation in Africa – clean, inclusive, and transformational.”
Funding for the wind farm was secured through a consortium of international financial institutions, including the Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC), International Finance Corporation (IFC), Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation, Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Bank, and Standard Chartered Bank. The commercial financing tranche received insurance backing from Nippon Export and Investment Insurance (NEXI), with additional working capital support from the Commercial International Bank of Egypt.
Headquartered in Dubai, AMEA Power focuses on developing and operating renewable energy projects. In August last year, signed a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) and Implementation Agreement (IA) with Ethiopian Electric Power to develop a 300MW wind energy project in the country.
