By Abdullahi Lukman
Egypt is aiming to generate 45 percent of its energy from renewable sources by 2028, bringing forward its previous 2030 target as part of efforts to strengthen energy security and reduce fuel imports.
Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly announced the plan after a cabinet meeting, noting that the government is upgrading the national electricity grid to handle increased renewable capacity at an estimated cost of 160 billion Egyptian pounds.
He said the accelerated timeline would be driven by ongoing large-scale renewable energy projects, alongside major investments in grid infrastructure to ensure efficient distribution and integration of clean energy.
Earlier, Deputy Electricity Minister Sabah Mashaly had stated that the country was targeting a 42 percent renewable share by 2030 under its broader strategy for sustainable energy development.
Egypt has also significantly increased funding for the sector, allocating 136.3 billion Egyptian pounds in its 2025–2026 development plan, nearly double the previous year’s budget, to support energy diversification and rising electricity demand.
The country is expanding regional electricity interconnections, with plans to raise cross-border capacity to 3,900 megawatts by 2025/2026 through projects linking it with Jordan, Libya, Sudan, as well as a Saudi interconnection and an undersea cable connecting Greece and Cyprus.
The move reflects a wider regional push toward clean energy, with countries such as Saudi Arabia targeting 50 percent renewable electricity by 2030 and the United Arab Emirates pursuing net-zero emissions by 2050, backed by investments in solar, wind and green hydrogen projects.
