Egypt Roundup: Electricity generation, Paris Olympics preparations, medical evacuation

Regional and international conflicts

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi has acknowledged the challenges posed by regional and international conflicts. He reassures the nation that they will overcome this tough phase and continue to progress and develop. The president also reaffirms Egypt's support for the Palestinians' right to an independent state, Asharq Al-Awsat reports.

Release of detainees

Egypt released 79 detainees from pretrial detention in response to President Al-Sisi's engagement with political forces. The National Dialogue Board of Trustees thanked the president and other officials for their efforts and stated that this decision aims to create a positive environment for the National Dialogue. According to the Middle East Monitor, the board was formed in June 2022 and includes prominent figures from both the government and the opposition. This release follows Al-Sisi's call for national dialogue and previous releases of detainees.

Electrical capacity boost

Egypt plans to raise electrical capacity by 750 megawatts with two $700 million renewable energy projects by October 2024. The projects include a 250-megawatt wind energy farm and a 500-megawatt solar energy station. The country aims to generate 42% of its power from renewables by 2030, five years ahead of the initial target. Middle East Economy reports that the country has also partnered with foreign direct investments and the European Union to advance its renewable energy agenda.

Medical evacuation

The EU coordinated the first medical evacuation of 16 Palestinian children and their families from Egypt to Spain. Several EU countries offered assistance for medical evacuations. The EU has allocated €32.5 million to support health response in Gaza. EU officials emphasised the importance of safe medical evacuations for vulnerable patients, particularly children, in the ongoing health and humanitarian crisis in Gaza.

Egypt set for Paris Olympics

Egypt has sent its biggest team ever to participate in the Paris Olympics games starting on July 26. Speaking at a press event on Tuesday, Minister of Youth and Sports Ashraf Sobhy said Egypt had not hesitated in providing its athletes with the resources they needed to qualify for the Games and as a result, it had the biggest team of any Arab or African nation. The games start on Friday and run until August 11 in Paris, Arab News reports.