Red sea: Red Sea Governor Walid el Barqi emphasized the Egyptian state's commitment to attracting foreign investment by enhancing the legislative and regulatory environment, thereby supporting clean energy initiatives. He made these remarks during a meeting with Erik Husem, the Norwegian Ambassador to Egypt, which was attended by senior officials from Scatec, a Norwegian global company.
According to State Information Service Egypt, the discussions centered on bolstering cooperation in renewable energy projects, particularly focusing on the Shadwan Wind Project. This project, spanning 90 square kilometers in the Red Sea governorate, aims to generate 900 megawatts in its first phase, with foreign investment totaling approximately US$1.2 billion.
Governor Barqi highlighted the importance of the Egyptian-Norwegian partnership as a model for sustainable development and technology transfer, emphasizing job creation. The Shadwan project is expected to generate over 2,500 jobs, with 99% of the workforce being Egyptian.
Ambassador Husem reaffirmed Norway's commitment to expanding joint projects in the Red Sea governorate, citing the region's promising potential for renewable energy investments. He noted that the collaboration also extends to community development, including women's empowerment initiatives, facilitated by Norwegian companies in the Egyptian market.
Officials from Scatec detailed the progress of the project, indicating that site preparation and infrastructure works are on schedule for the upcoming turbine installation. Commercial operations are set to commence between November 2027 and March 2028, with efforts underway to secure Egypt's "Golden License."
The Norwegian delegation also shared their broader project portfolio in Egypt, which aims to achieve a total generating capacity of 5.7 gigawatts from solar and wind power by 2028, alongside energy storage and green ammonia production initiatives.
Both parties concluded the meeting by underscoring the importance of ongoing coordination and follow-up to enhance Egyptian-Norwegian economic cooperation in energy and sustainable development sectors.