In 2015, the state (Egyptian government) decided to establish the largest solar power station in the world, after the Republican Decision No. 274 of 2014, to establish the biggest solar energy project in Aswan, and the choice was made along the extension village of Benban, on the western desert road of Aswan Governorate, to establish the project, where the geographical location is considered the sunniest area in the world, with an investment cost estimated at 40 billion Egyptian pounds.
Dozens of Arab and international companies specialized in the solar energy production participate in the project, under the supervision of the New and Renewable Energy Authority of the Ministry of Electricity and New and Renewable Energy.
The project aims to produce 2000 megawatts (2 gigawatts) of electrical energy, which is nearly equivalent to the energy produced from the High Dam, to support the unified national grid for electricity, and the size of the solar panels used in the station is about 200,000 solar panels that produce 50 megawatts of clean energy.
This huge project provides thousands of direct and indirect job opportunities ,also 10% of the of the participating companies’ profits have been allocated to social responsibility, and a solar energy school has been established, including all solar energy trades, and power plants, in agreement with the Ministry of Education.
In 2017, It was decided to establish the Association of Solar Energy Investors in Benban, to contribute to expanding the umbrella of social protection for the residents of Benban, to raise the efficiency of social, health and environmental services, and to provide educational services, in a way that contributes to raise the efficiency of the areas surrounding the project, and to reflect on the corporate social responsibility Working in the field of producing electricity from solar energy.
The association is considered the only association working in this field in Aswan, which was established for the purpose of developing the social and health life of all residents of Aswan and Benban in particular, and developing social work fields related to the production of solar energy.
The Solar Energy Investors Association was established for Community Development in Banban, according with the provisions of Law 84 of 2002, known as No. 1634 of 2019, and works in community development in the field of solar energy production, providing cultural, scientific and religious services, social assistance, maternal, child and family care, health services, and services. Environmental services, economic services, health activities and the field of environmental protection, and the establishment of a station for packaging agricultural crops to serve the community, and the association works on the scale of Aswan Governorate.
