live U.S., Iran reach preliminary peace deal, Friday signing expected
U.S. and Iranian officials said they had agreed on a framework to end their war, halt the U.S. blockade of Iran and reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a pre...
Egypt’s first integrated solar and battery storage plant will deliver dispatchable clean energy, enhance grid stability and manage peak demand. The project is expected to generate approximately 3,000 GWh of clean energy and avoid up to 1.4 million metric tonnes of emissions per year.
The project aligns with Egypt’s goal of reaching 42% renewable energy by 2030 and is part of the Nexus of Water, Food and Energy (NWFE) platform.
The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), African Development Bank (AfDB), and British International Investment (BII) are jointly providing US$ 479.1 million to Obelisk Solar Power SAE—a Scatec ASA-owned entity—to develop a 1.1 GW solar PV plant with an integrated 200 MWh battery energy storage system (BESS) in Egypt’s Nagaa Hammadi region.
The EBRD will contribute up to US$ 173.5 million, including a US$ 101.9 million first-loss guarantee under the EFSD+ and a US$ 6.5 million grant from its Shareholder Special Fund. The AfDB’s US$ 184.1 million package includes concessional funds from the Sustainable Energy Fund for Africa, the Canada-AfDB Climate Fund, and CIF’s Clean Technology Fund. BII will provide a US$ 100 million concessional loan and a US$ 15 million returnable grant to support the BESS component and attract private investment.
The financing covers approximately 80% of the total project cost (US$ 590 million). Developed by Scatec, the project will be built in two phases:
Phase 1: 561 MW solar + 100 MW/200 MWh BESS, operational by mid-2026
Phase 2: 564 MW solar, operational by late 2026
Electricity will be sold under a 25-year USD-denominated power purchase agreement with the Egyptian Electricity Transmission Company, backed by a sovereign guarantee.
This will be Egypt’s first large-scale integrated solar and battery project, expected to generate 3,000 GWh annually and cut CO₂ emissions by up to 1.4 million tonnes per year.
Details of a reported draft memorandum of understanding between the United States and Iran offer the clearest picture yet of how both sides plan to end months of conflict and move towards a longer-term settlement.
The U.S. and Iran say they have reached a deal to end their conflict, with an immediate ceasefire and reopening of the Strait of Hormuz after the lifting of the U.S. naval blockade. Talks will continue over the next 60 days to finalise the agreement
U.S. President Donald Trump has said a peace agreement with Iran is scheduled to be signed on Sunday in a post on social media, despite Tehran's Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei saying no deal would be approved this weekend.
U.S. and Iranian officials said they had agreed on a framework to end their war, halt the U.S. blockade of Iran and reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a preliminary pact that sent oil prices falling but leaves the fate of Iran's nuclear program to further negotiations.
Switzerland on Sunday rejected a referendum proposal to cap its population at 10 million, a projection showed, as voters prioritised economic stability and the country's ties with the European Union over immigration concerns.
France’s parliament has formally recognised state responsibility for the use of the toxic pesticide chlordecone in Martinique and Guadeloupe, marking a significant step in addressing decades of environmental contamination and public health concerns.
Financial markets are significantly underestimating the economic impact of biodiversity loss, potentially leaving countries exposed to sovereign debt crises and rising borrowing costs, according to new research published on Friday.
Wildlife researchers have identified dozens of previously unknown insect species during an expedition to Angola’s remote Lisima Plateau, a conservation group announced on Wednesday.
Global weather forecasters predict a strong El Niño will develop in the second half of 2026, bringing hotter, drier conditions to much of Asia while increasing rainfall in parts of North and South America.
Google has asked U.S. regulators for permission to release up to 32 million sterilised mosquitoes in California and Florida as part of its experimental “Debug” programme aimed at reducing populations of disease-carrying insects.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment