Brussels, 27/02/2012 (Agence Europe) - The Portuguese electricity and gas transport network operator, REN, will be joining the ranks of the shareholders at the Medgrid consortium. Set up at the end of 2010 by 20 different industrial groups, Medgrid aims to promote and facilitate the development of the electricity grid in the Mediterranean (as part of the Mediterranean solar project) to transport renewable electricity produced in North Africa, the Sahara and the Middle East. REN joins the French industrial groups EDF, RTE, Alstom, Areva, Atos Origin, Nexans and CDC, Abengoa and Red Electrica from Spain, Siemens from Germany, Terna, Prysmian and Nemo from Italy, ONE from Morocco, TuNur from Tunisia, Taqa from Egypt, Walid Elias Establishment from Syria and Pan Med Energy from Jordan. The French development agency (AFD) is a stakeholder through its strategic and financial partnership. The Mediterranean solar project is an initiative proposed by the Commission in 2008. It seeks to build solar and wind energy production capacity of 20 gigawatts in the south and east of the Mediterranean by 2020, including 5 GW for export to the EU, 25% of the projected production. (EH/trans/fl)