Our investment
Description of the investment.
Description of the investment.
Obelisk is a large-scale renewable energy project in Egypt, led by Scatec. Our financing will support the development of a 1GWac (1.125GWp) solar photovoltaic (PV) plant, integrated with a 100MW/200MWh battery energy storage system (BESS). Located in Nagaa Hammadi in the Qena Governorate, the project aims to enhance energy security and support Egypt’s transition to clean energy.
BII’s financing includes a US$ 100 million concessional loan and a US$ 15 million returnable grant (a deeply subordinated loan) that helps lower the overall cost of the BESS part of the project, making it more financially viable and affordable, while attracting private sector participation and creating models for future investments. BII’s financing is subject to drawdown conditions.
Impact information
Applies to investments made from 2019 onwards. The tabs in this section define what we expect to achieve through the investment, assessing the potential impact of the investment against six dimensions of impact. You can find more details on our methodology of assessing impact here.
Applies to investments made from 2019 onwards. The tabs in this section define what we expect to achieve through the investment, assessing the potential impact of the investment against six dimensions of impact. You can find more details on our methodology of assessing impact here.
What?
| Impact |
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Our investment supports the decarbonisation of one of the top ten emitting economies in our markets. If proven viable, the project could catalyse broader market adoption and significantly increase the share of renewables in Egypt’s energy mix, helping to avoid greenhouse gas emissions and advance progress towards SDGs 7.2 and 13A. |
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How?
| Primary | Secondary |
|---|---|
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Catalysing markets: As Egypt's first on-grid solar PV and battery storage project, the initiative plays a catalytic role in demonstrating the commercial and technical feasibility of dispatchable renewable power. Success could unlock future investment and innovation in large-scale battery projects across the country. |
Direct: Finance the development and construction of 1 GW of solar PV with a 100MW/200 MWh battery to be delivered in two phases consisting of 561 MW + 200MWh battery by H1 2026, and 564 MW by H2 2026. |
Who?
| Stakeholder | Geography | Characteristics |
|---|---|---|
| Planet |
Global |
n/a |
How much?
| Scale | Depth/Duration |
|---|---|
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The project's contracted capacity is estimated to generate 2559.10 GWh/year of additional renewable power, thereby avoiding 1,417,338 tCO2e/year. |
Contribution/additionality
| Contribution/additionality |
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The project will be financed through significant amounts of concessional debt and grants from DFIs and donor including AFDB and EBRD. Without DFI capital, the project will not go forward. |
Risk
Execution RiskSolar plus battery technology may not be adopted by power utilities at scale due to higher levelised cost of electricity (LCOE) in comparison to alternatives. This risk is expected to be mitigated in the medium to long-term due to technological advances and falling battery costs. In the short term, concessional capital subsidises the high technology costs. Execution RiskRelates to the risk of the project not being constructed as planned or to required specifications, which could delay the start of commercial operations or reduce performance and hence impact. Correlated with commercial risk and considered low given Scatec’s strong execution track record. |
Impact score
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Impact score (at point of investment)
The Impact Score is a tool to help us manage our performance against our strategic impact objectives. It is designed to incentivise investments that support our productive, sustainable, and inclusive objectives. The Impact Score shown is based on the 2022-2026 Impact Score methodology. You can find out more here. The Impact Score is published for investments made from 2022 onwards. The Impact Scores are calculated at the point of investment. We publish the Impact Scores of new investments annually, once the information has been externally assured by an independent third party. |
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Environmental and social information
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Environmental and social summary
A high-level description of the environmental and social aspects of the investment. This may include a summary of key environmental and social risks identified during environmental and social due diligence (ESDD); key elements of an environmental and social action plan (ESAP); or ways in which we plan to support the investee improve environmental and social standards, such as through their environmental and social management system (ESMS); as well as any other priority areas agreed with the investee.
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Environmental and social risk
A risk category rating, which indicates the level of environmental and social risk associated with an investment. For an explanation of the categorisations used, see here. We consistently provide an environmental and social risk category for all investments screened from 2023 onwards.
Environmental and social summary
The investment has a medium-high E&S rating due to its scale and a combination of project-specific risks, mitigated by Scatec having the necessary capacity and resources in place . A joint lender ESAP was agreed with Scatec, focusing on occupational health and safety, community health and safety, supply chain risk management, and waste and flood mitigation.
Environmental and social risk
High
Reporting and Complaints Mechanism
The Reporting and Complaints Mechanism allows anyone outside BII to report alleged breaches of the business integrity or environmental and social provisions of BII’s Policy on Responsible Investing. This includes breaches made by BII, a BII investee, or a portfolio company of a fund in which BII has invested. The Reporting and Complaints Mechanism Rules are available here. Reports and complaints can be submitted by email to [email protected] or by mail. See more details on our Reporting and Complaints Mechanism here.
For any other general enquiries contact us at [email protected]
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Key facts
- First published
:
When the investment was first published on the website database.
- September 2025
- Last updated
:
When the last quarterly update of the website database occurred.
- June 2026
- Project number
:
An identifier number shared by investments in the same project.
- D6465
- Status
:
The current status of the investment (green flag for active and red flag for exited).
- Active
- Region
:
The geographical region where the country is located. We currently invest in Africa, South Asia, South East Asia and the Caribbean. In 2023, BII’s investment mandate was extended allowing it to invest in regional funds linked to Ukraine, with the majority of activity expected to begin post-war. Investments outside these regions were made prior to 2012 under previous investment mandates.
- North Africa
- Country
:
The countries where the investment delivers impact. Where impact is delivered in multiple countries, this is indicated.
- Egypt
- Sector
:
We prioritise those sectors that facilitate development and need our capital the most. Our priority sectors contribute towards many of the Sustainable Development Goals. They range from investing in the power infrastructure that will provide people with better access to electricity, to investing in financial institutions that direct capital to the individuals and businesses that need it the most.
- Infrastructure
- Sub sector
:
The sub-sector that the investment is made into; this provides a more granular level of detail than the ‘sector’ information
- Independent Power and Renewable Electricity Producers
- Investment policy :
- Catalyst
- Investment type :
- Debt
- Start date :
- June 2025
- Amount :
- $100m
- Currency of investment :
- USD
- Domicile
:
The company or investment fund’s place of incorporation.
- Egypt
We provide capital in the following ways: directly – through direct equity, direct debt, guarantees and other non-intermediated financial instruments; and indirectly – principally through investment funds.
Type of investment portfolio that each investment is made under. Since 2014, we have run two investment portfolios: Catalyst and Growth. In addition, our Kinetic Portfolio enables us to manage concessional investment strategies.
For direct investments and fund investments, this is the date BII committed capital to the investments. This is typically the date on which legal agreements are signed by all parties.
For the portfolio companies of our fund investments, this is the date (either the month or the quarter) on which the fund committed capital to the portfolio company.
For direct equity investments, this is the date at which British International Investment exited the investment.
For debt investments, this is the date at which the final debt repayment was made.
For funds, this is the date at which the fund was terminated.
For underlying fund investments, this is the date at which the fund manager exited the investment.
The total amount committed, per financial instrument, per investment, on the date BII becomes subject to a binding legal obligation to provide funding or assume a contingent liability. This information is provided in US dollars.
For direct investments, this is the amount that BII has committed to the business or project. For fund investments, this is the amount BII has committed to the fund.
The currency in which the investment was made.
- First published
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Gender and climate finance facts
- Climate finance
:
Indicates whether the investment is climate finance qualified or partially climate finance qualified and the type of climate finance (adaptation, mitigation or both). We define climate finance using the multilateral development bank (MDB) and the International Development Finance Club (IDFC) Common Principles climate finance methodology. See Common Principles for Climate Mitigation Finance Tracking and Common Principles for Climate Change Adaptation Finance Tracking. We provide the climate finance qualification and type for commitments from 2020 onwards, which is when we launched our Climate Change Strategy.
- Fully qualified
- Climate finance type
:
Mitigation: Indicates investments which, by avoiding or reducing GHG emissions or increasing GHG sequestration, contributes substantially to the stabilisation of GHG concentrations in the atmosphere – at a level which prevents dangerous anthropogenic interference with the climate system consistent with the long-term temperature goal of the Paris Agreement
Adaptation: Indicates investments aimed at preventing or reducing the risks or vulnerabilities posed by climate change and increasing climate resilience. This includes both adapted activities and enabling activities to manage and reduce physical climate risks
Dual: Indicates investments directed towards activities contributing to both climate change mitigation and climate change adaptation and meeting the respective criteria for each category
The climate finance type of the investment is determined at time of commitment.
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- Mitigation
- Fossil Fuel or Renewable Exposure
:
‘Renewable’ includes energy sources with very low lifecycle emissions such as solar, wind and tidal or those meeting a certain criteria such as hydro power, biomass or geothermal. ‘Fossil fuel’ includes coal, oil and gas. Investments labelled as ‘Mixed’ support a combination of renewable and fossil fuel assets.
- Renewable
- Climate finance
Related investments made by BII into this company:
| Investment name | Commitment | Region | Sector | Start date | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Investment 01 | $15m | North Africa | Infrastructure | June 2025 | Active |
