The governorate of Luxor is considering the establishment of a solar energy power plant with 2 MW capacity through EGP 22m in investments, with the goal of "beginning the shift" to clean energy throughout the 2014/2015 fiscal year, according to Governor Tarek SaadEddin. SaadEddin added that the governorate consumes 60 MW of electricity annually, and the project will represent the beginning of a transition to new and renewable energy. The governor explained that two solar power plants were recently inaugurated in the presence of Prime Minister Ibrahim Mehleb. The first plant has a capacity of 80 KW and cost EGP 3.8m to build. Luxor is the largest tourism governorate in southern Egypt, as 70% of Egypt's Pharaonicrelics are contained within Luxor, according to the Ministry of State for Antiquities. Luxor is home to 168 cruise hotels located on the Nile's path between Luxor and Aswan with a hotel capacity of 17,000 rooms, according to Egypt's Chamber of Hotels. Luxor is working toward a transition to new and renewable energy in order to help preserve the environment and push tourists to visit in the near future, the governor said. Hotel occupancy rates in Luxor currently hover around 12% and are expected to exceed 30% over the coming winter season. The governor welcomed a delegation of journalists from Japan today to discuss the security situation in order to prepare for Japanese tourists visiting the area next winter. "The governorate completed a surveillance camera project in the cities of Armant, Esna, and Luxor in order to protect archaeological areas," the governor said. The governorate hopes to establish control centres in order to monitor archaeological areas. The governor mentioned organised infrastructure projects currently being conducted to improve the quality of services provided in the near future. This includes the recent opening of two sewage plants, the first costing EGP 85m with a 17,000 cubic metres capacity daily. The second plant's capacity exceeds 20,000 cubic metres per day.
