New and Renewable Energy Authority (NREA) called upon investors in Benban solar projects to obtain new licenses from the military.
NREA Head Mohamed Salah Sobky met with investors Tuesday to inform them of the procedures stipulating the approval and review of future plans for solar projects.
Sobky said all solar energy companies will submit an application to the Armed Forces Operations Authority to obtain operation licenses in Benban, Aswan for the authority to ensure the security of the construction procedures.
The Armed Forces Operations Authority will grant approvals within a one to three month period, he told Daily News Egypt but that the cost has not been decided yet. This period will not affect the procedures of these projects especially since companies have not financially closed.
New and renewable energy companies seek financial closure before October 2016 per the government plan for solar energy in tariff projects.
NREA will assist companies to obtain approvals. “This is a regular security procedure to ensure public security,” Sobky said.
He said NREA finished measuring and examining 46 pieces of land allocated for solar energy in addition to ten others for wind energy. A Memorandum of Understanding was signed with investors to provide lands in Aswan and Zafarana.
The 39 companies that will establish solar energy projects have already been allocated lands and obtained 12 licenses from different governmental agencies including the ministries of Environment, Interior, Petroleum, Tourism, and Antiquities and from the Armed Forces.
NREA has been cooperating with investors and providing them with facilities to implement the projects. “This is part of our responsibility,” Sobky said. “The authority does not only provide lands but cooperates to help investors.”
