6:44 am - April 5, 2026
Egypt unveils a comprehensive plan to invest heavily in expanding its renewable energy capacity, upgrading transmission infrastructure, and fostering regional electricity integration, to meet soaring demand and achieve sustainable growth.
Dr. Mahmoud Esmat, Egypt’s Minister of Electricity and Renewable Energy, laid out a pretty comprehensive plan involving investments and system upgrades aimed at meeting the rising energy demands while also expanding low-carbon power generation capacity. As reported by Cairo24, the ministry plans to carve out around 160 billion Egyptian pounds to connect new renewable energy projects to the national grid, while also stepping up investments in transmission infrastructure and measures to cut losses, helping to keep supply reliable as consumption continues to grow.
Esmat told the press that electric loads have increased by about 7 percent, an indication of stronger demand from both residential and industrial sectors. He described the funding as part of a dual goal: to diversify the power generation mix and to find a balance between economic practicality and environmental sustainability. The minister mentioned that the network expansion includes building 33 substations operating at 220kV and 66kV, along with nearly 10,000 kilometers of transmission lines. Interestingly enough, despite the larger network, the ministry reports an improvement in technical performance and a drop in system losses, which is pretty encouraging.
Government and industry sources also add some context to these figures. According to data from the state information service, Egypt’s grid capacity has more than doubled since 2014, rising from around 29,000 megawatts to approximately 61,000 megawatts today. The backbone of transmission has been significantly reinforced: the number of 500kV transformer stations has gone from about five to 23, a nearly 390 percent increase. The ministry also reports that energy efficiency measures and reduced gas consumption have saved roughly $900 million over the past ten months, based on data from the same source.
Alongside the 160 billion EGP designated for grid integration, there are substantial public investment commitments. Rania al-Mashat, Egypt’s Minister of Planning and Economic Development, told her colleagues that the 2024/25 investment plan allocates nearly 99.9 billion Egyptian pounds from public funds to 48 different projects. She highlighted priorities like improving service quality, boosting international competitiveness, attracting private investment, and cutting down on carbon emissions.
Esmat also outlined specific targets aimed at speeding up Egypt’s clean energy transition. According to Masress, the country wants to reach 12,000 MW of renewable energy capacity and add 3,350 MW of battery storage by 2026. These ambitions stretch to 2029, with plans to hit approximately 20,000 MW of renewables, close to 3,600 MW of nuclear capacity, and 2,400 MW of pumped storage. The ministry has signaled that it hopes to raise the share of renewables in the national energy mix to about 42 percent by 2030, and over 65 percent by 2040, as reported by Business Today Egypt.
Esmat emphasized that Egypt is working to create a more appealing environment for private and foreign investment. The national renewable energy authority recently announced a cooperation agreement with the Japan International Cooperation Agency to develop a 20 MW solar photovoltaic plant, paired with a 30 MWh battery storage system, along with a training center. The authority mentioned that this project is part of a larger effort to involve the private sector more actively and to build local capacity for deploying renewables.
When it comes to policy, especially related to pricing and fuel procurement, Egypt is trying to keep it realistic from a fiscal perspective. During a speech at the African Power Utilities Association conference, Esmat said that retail electricity tariffs will stay unchanged until January 2026, with any future adjustments being based on actual costs, a point covered by Business Today Egypt. Currently, the government subsidizes nearly 170 billion EGP worth of electricity. Also, Egypt receives about 110 million cubic meters of gas daily at a notional price of $4 per MMBtu, whereas the actual cost from the Ministry of Petroleum exceeds $7 per MMBtu.
Esmat stressed the importance of close collaboration with the Petroleum Ministry to ensure thermal plants get adequate fuel during this transition period. He argued that increasing domestic fuel production while expanding variable renewables is a complementary approach, and that efficiency gains should help keep fossil fuel demand in check. The ministry has also set energy efficiency targets aiming to reduce sectoral consumption by up to 18 percent by 2040, as per Business Today Egypt.
Beyond the borders, Egypt is also pushing to enhance its regional energy role. Esmat mentioned efforts to deepen connections with neighboring countries, including current links to Sudan, Libya, Jordan, and Saudi Arabia. He sees Egypt as a potential regional hub, an entry point between Africa, the Middle East, and Europe, for power flows. This ambition is reflected in ongoing conversations with European and African partners.
All in all, the strategy combines strengthening the electrical grid, expanding renewables, deploying storage solutions, and managing demand, all aimed at securing both immediate stability and long-term resilience. Observers will be watching closely to see whether these transmission projects, storage initiatives, and efficiency programs can be rolled out at scale and on time, and whether subsidy and fuel cost pressures might push tariffs to be reviewed sooner than expected.
For those involved in climate tech and energy finance, especially in the UAE, Egypt’s approach could serve as an interesting case study, particularly in how to integrate intermittent renewables into an existing thermal capacity, on a large scale. Its ambitious capacity targets, regional interconnection plans, and investments to reduce losses could open up opportunities for technology providers, storage developers, and grid modernization specialists who are keen on expanding into North Africa’s evolving power scene.
- https://www.cairo24.com/2395434 – Please view link – unable to able to access data
- https://www.cairo24.com/2395434 – Dr Mahmoud Esmat, Egypt’s Minister of Electricity and Renewable Energy, announced a comprehensive strategy to develop the electricity sector, aiming to enhance energy efficiency and ensure continuous service amidst rising consumption. He highlighted a 7% increase in electrical loads, indicating growing energy demand, and emphasized efforts to improve usage efficiency and promote conservation. Esmat also noted ongoing coordination with the Ministry of Petroleum to secure necessary fuel for power plants, ensuring stable electricity supply. Additionally, he revealed an investment of approximately 160 billion EGP to integrate renewable energy sources into the national grid, aligning with the country’s goals to diversify energy sources and balance economic viability with environmental sustainability. The development projects include establishing 33 power stations at 220 and 66 kV and implementing about 10,000 kilometers of transmission lines. Despite the extensive expansion, the ministry has successfully reduced technical losses, reflecting improved network efficiency. Esmat stressed that the sector’s development plan not only addresses current challenges but also secures future needs by enhancing service quality, increasing reliance on clean energy sources, and ensuring the stability and sustainability of the electricity supply.
- https://www.masress.com/en/amwalalghaden/195436 – Egypt’s Minister of Planning, Economic Development, and International Cooperation, Rania Al Mashat, announced that the fiscal year 2024/25 investment plan for the Ministry of Electricity and Renewable Energy includes EGP 99.9 billion in public investments for 48 projects. During her meeting with Electricity Minister Mahmoud Esmat to discuss the sector’s investment strategy for FY 2025/2026, Al Mashat highlighted key objectives, including improving electricity services, boosting international competitiveness, attracting private sector investment, and promoting renewable energy to reduce carbon emissions. Esmat emphasized Egypt’s progress in building a robust energy infrastructure and legal framework to attract private and international investment. He added that Egypt aims to generate 12,000 MW from renewables and 3,350 MW from battery storage by 2026, increasing to 20,000 MW of renewables, 3,600 MW of nuclear power, and 2,400 MW from pumped storage by 2029. Esmat also outlined Egypt’s strategy to position itself as a regional energy hub, integrating African, European, and Middle Eastern markets through existing electrical interconnection projects with Sudan, Libya, Jordan, and Saudi Arabia. He highlighted ongoing efforts to strengthen partnerships with the EU and African nations to advance renewable energy projects.
- https://www.businesstodayegypt.com/Article/1/6766/ElectricityMin-Esmat-No-increase-in-electricity-prices-in-the-country – Egypt’s Minister of Electricity and Renewable Energy, Mahmoud Esmat, confirmed that electricity prices will remain unchanged until January 2026. Speaking at the 21st General Conference of the African Power Utilities Association (APUA), Esmat noted that prices would be reviewed based on actual costs to establish a new pricing structure. He highlighted that electricity subsidies currently amount to nearly EGP 170 billion. The ministry is working to maximize local production from various energy sources to increase the share of renewable energy in the energy mix to around 42% by 2030 and more than 65% by 2040. Esmat also mentioned that Egypt’s electricity sector receives approximately 110 million cubic meters of gas daily, priced at $4 per million British thermal units, while the actual cost to the Ministry of Petroleum exceeds $7. Additionally, the ministry aims to enhance energy efficiency measures, targeting a reduction in consumption across all sectors by up to 18% by 2040.
- https://www.sis.gov.eg/en/media-center/news/egypt-saves-900-mln-in-10-months-through-energy-efficiency-gas-consumption-reduction/ – Egypt’s Minister of Electricity and Renewable Energy, Mahmoud Esmat, announced that the country saved $900 million over the past 10 months through energy efficiency measures and reduced gas consumption. Esmat highlighted the significant progress in Egypt’s electricity sector over the past decade, noting that the national electricity grid capacity has increased from 29,000 MW to 61,000 MW since 2014. He also emphasized the reinforcement and development of the national electricity transmission network, including the establishment of 23 transformer stations at a voltage of 500 kV, representing a 390% increase compared to approximately five transformer stations in 2014.
- https://www.nrea.gov.eg/test/en/Media/New/3018 – Dr. Mahmoud Esmat, Egypt’s Minister of Electricity and Renewable Energy, emphasized the country’s commitment to promoting renewable energy, reducing carbon emissions, and diversifying energy sources. He highlighted an ambitious program to maximize the utilization of new and renewable energy resources and noted that the state has created an enabling investment environment to support the private sector and attract further investments. As part of the national energy strategy and the action plan to enhance the role of new and renewable energy in the energy mix, reduce carbon emissions, and within the framework of partnership and cooperation with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), Dr. Esmat witnessed the signing ceremony of the agreement for the construction of a 20 MW solar power plant using photovoltaic cells, an integrated battery energy storage system with a capacity of 30 MWh, in addition to an eco-friendly information and training center, to promote the use of renewable energy.
- https://www.sis.gov.eg/en/media-center/news/egypt-saves-900-mln-in-10-months-through-energy-efficiency-gas-consumption-reduction/ – Egypt’s Minister of Electricity and Renewable Energy, Mahmoud Esmat, announced that the country saved $900 million over the past 10 months through energy efficiency measures and reduced gas consumption. Esmat highlighted the significant progress in Egypt’s electricity sector over the past decade, noting that the national electricity grid capacity has increased from 29,000 MW to 61,000 MW since 2014. He also emphasized the reinforcement and development of the national electricity transmission network, including the establishment of 23 transformer stations at a voltage of 500 kV, representing a 390% increase compared to approximately five transformer stations in 2014.
Noah Fact Check Pro
The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first
emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed
below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may
warrant further investigation.
Freshness check
Score:
8
Notes:
The article was published on 4 April 2026, reporting on statements made by Dr. Mahmoud Esmat, Egypt’s Minister of Electricity and Renewable Energy, regarding a 7% increase in electrical loads and an investment of EGP 160 billion to support renewable energy projects. Similar information has been reported in other sources, such as the State Information Service (SIS) in December 2024, which mentioned the ministry’s strategy to integrate 42% renewable energy into the grid by 2030. However, the specific figures and plans outlined in the Cairo24 article appear to be more recent and detailed, suggesting originality. ([sis.gov.eg](https://sis.gov.eg/en/media-center/news/minister-numerous-measures-taken-to-harness-all-renewable-energy-sources/?utm_source=openai))
Quotes check
Score:
7
Notes:
The article includes direct quotes attributed to Dr. Mahmoud Esmat regarding the 7% increase in electrical loads and the EGP 160 billion investment in renewable energy. While these statements align with previously reported plans, such as the SIS report from December 2024, the exact wording in the Cairo24 article does not appear verbatim in other sources, indicating originality. ([sis.gov.eg](https://sis.gov.eg/en/media-center/news/minister-numerous-measures-taken-to-harness-all-renewable-energy-sources/?utm_source=openai))
Source reliability
Score:
6
Notes:
Cairo24 is a news outlet that provides coverage on various topics, including energy and infrastructure. While it is not as widely recognized as major international news organizations, it does provide coverage on significant developments. The article’s content aligns with previously reported plans by the Ministry of Electricity and Renewable Energy, suggesting a degree of reliability. However, the lack of corroboration from more widely recognized sources raises some concerns about the source’s reliability.
Plausibility check
Score:
8
Notes:
The claims regarding the 7% increase in electrical loads and the EGP 160 billion investment in renewable energy are plausible and consistent with Egypt’s ongoing efforts to modernize its energy infrastructure and expand renewable energy capacity. Similar initiatives have been reported by the Ministry of Electricity and Renewable Energy, such as the plan to integrate 42% renewable energy into the grid by 2030. ([sis.gov.eg](https://sis.gov.eg/en/media-center/news/minister-numerous-measures-taken-to-harness-all-renewable-energy-sources/?utm_source=openai))
Overall assessment
Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): PASS
Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): MEDIUM
Summary:
The article presents information on Egypt’s energy sector, including statements from Dr. Mahmoud Esmat regarding a 7% increase in electrical loads and an EGP 160 billion investment in renewable energy. While the content aligns with previously reported plans by the Ministry of Electricity and Renewable Energy, the lack of corroboration from more widely recognized sources and the absence of direct links to official statements or documents from the Ministry raise concerns about the source’s reliability and the independence of the verification. Therefore, the overall confidence in the accuracy of the information is medium. Editors should exercise caution and consider seeking additional verification from more widely recognized sources before publishing.
