Egypt has inaugurated a new solar power plant in Djibouti, expanding bilateral cooperation in renewable energy and underscoring Cairo’s growing role in supporting power infrastructure development across Africa.
The facility, located in Omar Jagaa village in Djibouti’s Arta region, was officially opened by Egypt’s Deputy Prime Minister for Industrial Development and Minister of Industry and Transport, Kamel al-Wazir, alongside Djibouti’s Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Younis Ali Guedi, according to an official statement.
The inauguration ceremony was attended by senior Djiboutian officials, diplomats from both countries, and representatives of Egyptian public institutions involved in the project’s implementation, including the Arab Organization for Industrialization (AOI) and the Egyptian Agency for Partnership for Development (EAPD).
Al-Wazir conveyed greetings from Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi to Djibouti’s leadership, describing the project as a concrete outcome of Sisi’s official visit to Djibouti in April 2025, which marked a turning point in relations between the two countries.
“This solar power plant is not just a source of electricity; it is a strategic pillar for improving living conditions, supporting local economic activity and promoting the use of clean and sustainable energy,” al-Wazir said.
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He added that the project reflects Egypt’s broader commitment to supporting African partners through technical assistance, capacity building and development projects that deliver direct benefits to local communities.
Djibouti’s Energy Minister Guedi described the facility as the largest solar power plant completed in a rural area of the country, calling it a symbol of the strong political ties and strategic cooperation between Djibouti and Egypt.
The plant has a generation capacity of 300 kilowatts (kW) and is equipped with an energy storage system capable of storing 1.29 megawatt-hours (MWh), enabling continuous power supply and improving electricity reliability for the surrounding community.
According to officials, the facility will provide clean electricity to households, public services and small businesses in Omar Jagaa and neighbouring areas, helping to reduce reliance on diesel generators and lowering energy costs in a region where access to power has historically been limited.
The project was implemented through a partnership between several Egyptian institutions. The Arab Organization for Industrialization oversaw construction and technical execution, while the Egyptian Agency for Partnership for Development provided funding and overall supervision as part of Egypt’s development cooperation programmes in Africa.
Additional technical support, including advanced remote monitoring and control systems, was supplied by Egyptian and international partners, including ARECO and Huawei, ensuring efficient operation and maintenance of the plant.
Djibouti, which has limited domestic energy resources, has been seeking to diversify its energy mix and expand renewable power generation, particularly in rural and off-grid areas. Solar energy has emerged as a key component of this strategy, given the country’s high solar irradiation levels.
For Egypt, the project aligns with a broader push to position itself as a regional hub for renewable energy expertise, manufacturing and project delivery, while strengthening diplomatic and economic ties across the Horn of Africa.
Al-Wazir said the Omar Jagaa plant opens the door to further cooperation between Cairo and Djibouti in areas such as green energy, local industrial development, technology transfer and workforce training.
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“The inauguration of this plant demonstrates Egypt’s commitment to long-term, mutually beneficial partnerships across Africa,” he said, adding that the initiative supports both countries’ development strategies and contributes to regional stability.
The project was first launched during a groundbreaking ceremony in June 2025, following agreements reached during President Sisi’s April visit. Officials said similar initiatives could be replicated in other remote areas of Djibouti as part of a wider rural electrification drive.
As African countries seek to expand electricity access while reducing carbon emissions, such bilateral projects are increasingly seen as a practical model for accelerating the deployment of renewable energy infrastructure across the continent.
