USTDA Supports Energy Sector Development in Egypt

(USTDA) HOUSTON, TEXAS – On June 30, 2011, USTDA awarded a $283,000 grant to Energy Allied Egypt (EAE), an Egyptian firm that focuses on development of energy projects in North and West Africa. The grant will support a feasibility study evaluation for 10 bio-digester units in six key locations throughout Egypt utilizing agricultural, animal and organic solid waste.

The grant was signed by Mr. Tamer Nassar, Vice President of EAE, who was in Houston as a delegate to the Egypt: Forward Forum. The Forum brought together Egyptian public and private sector officials to the United States to meet with U.S. business leaders to discuss opportunities for collaboration and enhanced trade.

"In the past six months, USTDA has worked quickly to support Egypt's transformative changes," stated USTDA Director Leocadia I. Zak. "This grant represents the beginning of a strengthening trade relationship with Egypt that we look forward to supporting."

Egypt produces millions of tons of agricultural waste on an annual basis, much of which is not disposed of in environmentally responsible ways. This project will help to address the problem of waste disposal by supporting the development of 10 bio-digester units to produce energy from the waste. U.S. businesses are very competitive in advanced anaerobic bio-digester technologies and this study will provide information to EAE on potential technologies U.S. companies have to offer.

The opportunity to conduct the USTDA-funded feasibility study will be competed on the Federal Business Opportunities (FBO) website. A link to the FBO announcement will be posted to USTDA's website at www.ustda.gov. Interested U.S. firms should submit proposals according to the instructions in the FBO announcement. Energy Allied Egypt will select the U.S. contractor that will complete the feasibility study.