Egypt launches major environmental projects in Sharm El-Sheikh ahead of COP27

Ahead of the 27th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP27), Egypt is launching various environmentally-friendly projects, including solar energy plants, a new central park in Sharm El-Sheikh, and a robust transportation system, all of which utilise clean energy, Egyptian officials said on Wednesday.

Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly followed up with the Governor of South Sinai Khaled Fouda on Wednesday on the preparations to host COP27 in November, where Fouda presented a number of projects being implemented in Sharm El-Sheikh.

Solar energy projects

With regard to solar energy projects, two plots of land have been allocated for the establishment of two new solar power stations, the South Sinai governor announced in a statement by the cabinet on Wednesday.

Fouda explained that with the two new plants, there will be a total number of four solar power plants in the city, with a total capacity of 20 megawatts. He added that the number of stations is expected to increase during the coming period to cover the city with 160 megawatts.

The governor indicated that the efforts to expand the establishment of solar energy plants also includes installing a station atop the Sharm El-Sheikh City Council building, which is scheduled to be completed soon.

He pointed out there is cooperation and coordination with the ministries of the environment and tourism in this regard, which includes organising workshops for investors and hotel owners, titled ‘Together to deploy small solar power plants in Sharm El-Sheikh.’

Central Park in Sharm El-Sheikh

Minister of Environment Yasmine Fouad signed a cooperation protocol on Wednesday with the governor of South Sinai to build a new central park in Sharm El-Sheikh ahead of COP27.

According to Egypt's Project Map, the central park is being built on area of 30 feddans (12.5 hectares) in front Sharm El-Sheikh City Council headquarters, and work on the project started on December 2021 and is due to be completed by March 2022.

President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi has urged improving the efficiency of Sharm El-Sheikh’s government and service facilities, according to a statement by the Cabinet.

The protocol aims to develop Sharm El-Sheikh into the first sustainable green city in Egypt, the South Sinai governor said in the statement, indicating that the design and dimension of the central park are in accordance with international sustainability standards, the statement added.

For her part, Minister Fouad said that the project should help achieve ecological balance and prevent desertification by planting more trees to beautify the environment, improve air quality, and protect the land from environmental damage.

Transportation projects

The governor also reviewed a number of environmentally-friendly transportation projects, explaining that Sharm El-Sheikh will provide all gas stations in the city with electric car charging units. In addition, the city will equip parking lots and hotel garages with charging units.

The Egyptian government is pressing ahead with plans to convert thousands of petrol-powered vehicles to run on natural gas as part of its effort to preserve the environment.

As part of the plan to transform the cities of Sharm El-Sheikh and Hurghada into green cities, Madbouly has commissioned the government to start converting all buses and cars, including taxis, as well as all mass transportation in the two cities to run with natural gas or electricity.

During COP26 in Glasgow, Egypt launched its National Climate Change Strategy 2050 with five main objectives, including cutting emissions in various sectors to maintain sustainable economic growth, promoting the use of renewable energy sources, producing energy from waste, and using alternative energy like green hydrogen.

Egypt – through the Suez Canal Economic Zone – has set its eyes on the green economy and its various industrial applications, such as green hydrogen, which is one of the most important sources of clean energy globally, to attract global investors and become a global logistics and economic hub.

Source: Ahram Online