TAQA Arabia, Alcazar Energy, and FAS Energy will launch their 150 MW solar plants within the feed-in tariff projects in Benban in Aswan, and link them on the national electricity grid within two weeks.
Sources at the ministry of electricity told Daily News Egypt that the implementation of TAQA Arabia’s 50 MW power plant has reached 97%, while FAS Energy will link its 50 MW solar power plant to the national electricity grid within five days. Alcazar Energy’s solar plant is also 97% completed.
The sources added that the Minister of Electricity Mohamed Shaker will visit the site of solar power plants in Benban within a week, to observe the latest developments in the implementation of projects, and link them to the national grid.
Infinity Solar has completed the establishment of a solar power plant, and connected it to the national electricity grid, with a capacity of 30 MW last week. The entry of the three power plants will increase the total capacity of the feed-in tariff projects in Benban to 180 MW.
Thirty-two companies are implementing solar power plants, under the second phase of the feed-in tariff scheme, with a collective capacity of 1,435 MW. Companies have started the construction work and installation of cells, in preparation for linking their plants to the national electricity grid next year.
The sources revealed that the fine imposed on the Saudi FAS Energy company has reached $5m. The fine was imposed as the company delayed the implementation of a solar power plant, agreed upon in a contract with the Egyptian Electricity Transmission Company, in the first phase of the feed-in tariff projects.
FAS Energy is one of the two companies that signed the energy purchase agreement in the first phase of the project to sell energy at 14.3 cents per 1 KW. The company was not able to complete the project on time, while the second company was on schedule.
The sources pointed out that the fine will be applied on the Saudi company, and will be paid in accordance with the contracts. “FAS Energy will not object, given that the tariff was set at 14.3 cents, while the tariff in the second phase is 8.4 cents,” the source said.
According to the energy purchase agreement signed by the company in the first phase of the feed-in tariff projects, companies are subject to a fine of $700 per 1 MW per day, if they fall behind the schedule until the completion of the plant.
