Egypt’s Suez Canal Economic Zone and Chinese firm Sunrev Solar commenced construction of an integrated solar energy components industrial complex in Ain Sokhna. Spanning 200,000 sq m and backed by a $200 million investment, the project will be developed in two phases. The first phase, valued at $90 million, will comprise two factories designed to produce 2 GW of solar cells and modules. The second phase, valued at $110 million, will localize the production of key raw materials, including silicon ingots and wafers.

The Arab Petroleum Investments Corporation (APICORP) extended a $50 million credit facility to the United Arab Emirates (UAE)-based SirajPower to boost its portfolio of distributed solar energy projects across the Middle East. The financing represents the largest lease-funding platform for solar projects in the Gulf Cooperation Council countries. It aims to support businesses in reducing their utility bills and lowering carbon emissions. Ahmed Attiga, CEO of APICORP, stated that the investment is part of the company’s $450 million renewable energy commitment over the next four years.

The UAE’s Sharjah inaugurated its first utility-scale solar facility, “SANA,” with a capacity of 60 MW and an area of 850,000 square meters. Located near the Sajaa Gas Plant, the solar project will supply clean power to the Sharjah National Oil Corporation’s operations and feed surplus electricity to the Sharjah Electricity, Water and Gas Authority. The project was executed in collaboration with Emerge, a joint venture between Masdar and EDF, which will also handle its operation and maintenance over the next 25 years.

Algeria’s state-owned oil company Sonatrach has signed a memorandum of understanding with U.S.-based Hecate Renewable Energy and steel maker Tosyali Algerie to evaluate a green hydrogen production project powered by renewables, aimed at decarbonizing Algeria’s steel sector.