• The first solar power plant worldwide capable of producing not only electrical energy, but also desalinate water for domestic usage
• Maire Tecnimont Group’s process engineering contractor KT-Kinetics Technology S.p.A. among the international players to carry out this groundbreaking technological project

Alexandria, 27 February 2018 – The MATS Concentrating Solar Power plant (MATS), the first solar power plant of its kind worldwide, has held today its Inauguration Ceremony at the site located inside the City for Science and Technology (SRTA-City) in Borg El-Arab, 40 km outside of Alexandria in Egypt.

The MATS project, “Multipurpose Applications by Thermodynamic Solar”, developed under the VII EU Framework Programme, is a groundbreaking example of the positive collaboration among Countries for the purpose of ecological technological advancement in Renewables. Representatives from Egyptian Ministries and Institutions, as well as from the European Union attended the ceremony, together with the numerous partners of the initiative participating to the European and Egyptian consortium.

ENEA, the Italian National Agency for New Technologies, Energy and Sustainable Economic Development, was the coordinator of the various agencies. The Egyptian Academy of Scientific Research and Technology (ASRT), acting as sponsor, provided the base of operations and KT-Kinetics Technology managed the execution of the project works and coordinated the contributions from all the other players involved, coming from Egypt, Italy, France, Germany and the United Kingdom. The European Union greatly supported the financing of the project under the 7th Framework Programme.

The innovative MATS plant uses the cutting-edge technology of molten salts, an eco-friendly carrier fluid, making it the first power plant with the dual function of both producing electrical energy up to 1 megawatt and desalinating water to produce 250 cubic meters per day of domestic water, advantageous in remote areas where services are difficult to provide. Moreover, this innovative technology improves efficiency of the plant while mitigating the environmental impact of the process.

The initiative is a sound example of outstanding Public-Private Partnership supporting technology development in the renewable energy sector, while unlocking value in local content. In fact, the tight collaboration with local Egyptian players enabled to transfer know-how in solar power production, since Italian companies supplied most of the main components, while some key equipment has been manufactured in Egypt under Italian design.

Maire Tecnimont S.p.A.

Maire Tecnimont S.p.A., a company listed on the Milan Stock Exchange, leads an industrial group (Maire Tecnimont Group) playing a major role in the international Engineering & Construction (E&C), Technology & Licensing and Energy Business Development & Ventures markets, with specific competences in plant building, particularly in the hydrocarbons segment (Oil & Gas, Petrochemicals and Fertilizers), as well as in Power Generation and Infrastructures. Maire Tecnimont Group operates in approximately 40 different countries, numbering around 50 operative companies and a workforce of about 5,400 employees, along with approximately 3,000 additional Electrical & Instrumentation professionals. For more information: www.mairetecnimont.com.