Egypt’s WadiCo to build off-grid solar plant for mining operations

Egypt’s New Valley for Mineral Resources and Oil Clay (WadiCo) will build a solar power plant to supply energy to its mining operations, marking a step towards cleaner energy use in the sector, the petroleum ministry said on Thursday.

The agreement was signed on the sidelines of the Egypt Energy Show (EGYPES 2026) with Asunim Egypt, a subsidiary of solar engineering, procurement and construction firm Asunim Group.

The 3.2-megawatt plant, to be built at the Al-Shaghab site in Aswan, will operate as an off-grid system, powering mining equipment, including three dumpers and two loaders, as well as three phosphate production lines and all site facilities.

The project is expected to save about 2.6 million litres of diesel annually, reduce operating costs and help lower fuel imports, in line with the government’s energy strategy.

The plant is also projected to cut carbon dioxide emissions by around 7,300 tonnes per year, supporting Egypt’s climate commitments.

“This project is not a standalone initiative but a scalable model that can be replicated across multiple mining sites,” WadiCo Chief Executive Amjad Abdel Razek said.

Attribution: Amwal Al Ghad English

Subediting: Y.Yasser