African renewables developer Lekela has broken ground on the 250MW West Bakr wind farm in Egypt.
The project is located 30km north-west of Ras Ghareb and is part of the government build, own and operate scheme.
A 20-year community investment plan is being deployed in the areas as part of the project, which includes a “shut down on demand” system to protect migrating birds.
The milestone was celebrated in Cairo’s new Administrative Capital and attended by Lekela stakeholders and partners, including the Minister of Electricity and Renewable Energy, the Minister of Environment and the Minister of Planning.
Chief executive Chris Antonopoulos said: “We are also thrilled to begin construction at West Bakr which marks our first project with the Egyptian Government. We look forward to opening this project in less than two years’ time and working with the Government on more opportunities in the future.”
Lekela meanwhile inaugurated its 159MW Taiba N’Diaye wind farm in Senegal.
The project features 46 Vestas turbines with the first phase of 16 units in operation. The full project will be completed later this year.
Taiba N’Diaye was opened by the President of Senegal, Macky Sall.
Antonopoulos added: “We have been working towards this day for several years now. It’s a big moment for Lekela and proof that clean energy can be built right across the African continent, quickly and cheaply. In just four years, we have become one of the largest pure renewable energy providers on the continent, with over 1,000MW now in construction or operation.
“To be able to open the first ever large-scale wind farm in West Africa is a historic moment for Senegal. This clean, cheap source of energy will be used by millions of people and hopefully sets a template for other countries to follow.”