BENBAN Solar Park, named after a Nile River village close to the power plant, is set to be the largest solar plant in the world. The power plant will cover Egypt’s electricity needs and edge it forward on its path to becoming the region’s energy hub.

BENBAN, built in the eastern region of the Sahara Desert, is set to produce between 1.6 and 2.0 GW of solar power by the end of 2019.

Built on an area that receives some of the best sunlight on the planet, BENBAN is arguably the second best spot for solar power plants, behind the Chilean desert highlands. By constructing a huge power plant, Egypt is set to reduce the costs of expensive power lines, power substations and hardware, which, in turn, is set to reduce the cost of electricity. Egypt is expected to generate 20 percent of its power from renewable sources by 2022.

Project Executions and Completions

Location: BENBAN Solar Park (Aswan City), over 1,100 km from the port of Alexandria

Client: Egyptian Ministry of Electricity and Renewable Energy

EGL scope of work:

  • Containers Customs Clearance and delivery from the Port to Site.
  • Three transformers of 100 tons each transportation and offloading to foundations including obtaining all necessary permissions from local RBA and police escort.

On the 29th May 2019 Egyptian Global Logistics (EGL), subsidiary of Kadmar Group completed transportation and jacking/skidding of 3 transformers for BENBAN solar project. In addition, EGL succeeded to deliver more than 500 containers to same site including the arrangement of all types of clearance formalities and getting approvals from related authority to clear containers from the border.

The site was located about 50 km from Aswan city. It was a quite challenging operation scheme that was performed and completed, despite the difficult conditions. ONE of the greatest difficulties: 3 transformers were loaded from 3 different sites - simultaneously - these are Etay, Wadi Elnatroun and East Assuit (total distance about 3,000 km). In addition, the delivery was in the month of Ramadan with a temperature of about 50°C (about 122°F), which made the delivery very difficult for personnel and equipment. (Mercedes Trucks - Goldhofer modular trailers - Enerpac Jacks.)

EGL team insisted on fasting on the holy month of Ramadan for almost 16 hours a day. Mina Magdy, a Christian driver within EGL team insisted on fasting with his Muslim colleagues as a sign of solidarity between Muslims and Christians.