Benban solar park is a power complex of 41 solar power plants being developed in Benban, located in the Aswan governorate, Egypt. Benban is touted to become the biggest solar photovoltaic park in the world, upon completion.

State-owned New and Renewable Energy Authority (NREA) is overseeing the 1.8GW project, which includes a number of small solar power plants being developed by different companies at a total cost of $4bn.

The project is a part of Egypt’s Nubian Suns Renewable Energy Feed-in Tariff (FiT) programme announced in September 2014, which is in line with the Egyptian government’s Sustainable Energy Strategy 2035 that aims to produce 20% of electricity from renewable sources by 2022.

IFC, as part of a consortium of lenders, provided financing for 13 individual photovoltaic projects developed at the Benban solar complex in Egypt and currently in the operational phase. These projects were developed by the following sponsors

• Acciona - 3 (Three) 50MW projects (Al Subh, Rising Sun Energy, Sun Rise Energy)
• Alcazar Energy - 4 (Four) 50MW projects (Alcazar 1, Delta, Horus, Aten)
• SECI - 3 (Three) projects (Arc (50MW), Arinna (20MW), Winnergy (20MW)
• Phoenix Power - 1 (one) 50MW project
• Shapoorji Energy - 1 (one) 50MW project
• Taqa Arabia Power - 1 (one) 50MW project

The project, including the above plots, has been collectively categorised as Category B in accordance with the IFC 2012 CWS. Most of the plots became operational from April 2020. The IFC now requires an Independent Environmental and Social Consultant to conduct an independent review to assess the environmental and social (E&S) risks and impacts of the operation and maintenance phase of the project and provide the promoters with a monitoring report.

Mission:

The assignment aims to critically assess the 13 projects against the applicable E&S requirements, as well as mitigation and deviation measures, for all sponsors' projects in the second year of operation; an annual environmental and safety audit (desk work and site visit) to cover the operation and maintenance phase of each project. This will include a review of the Facility Management Company (FMC).

TThe main deliverables of the assignment are :

• The Environmental, Health and Social Summary Report (EHSR)
• Environmental and Social Action Plan (ESAP)