Jordan commissions UAE-funded solar plant
Power plant is part of the country’s goals of generating 20% of its energy from renewables by 2020
The government of Jordan has officially commissioned the Quweira Solar Power Plant. The 105MW facility is being funded by UAE-based Abu Dhabi Fund for Development (ADFD) and is expected to generate enough power for 50,000 homes.
The project will see the installation of 328,320 photovoltaic panels, which are expected to produce 227GWh of solar power annually, over a period of 20 years. The ADFD is said to have provided $150m of funding for the project.
“ADFD’s involvement in the Quweira Solar Power Plant project is in line with its active assistance to Jordan with which the UAE enjoys time-tested bilateral ties. Through financing several major development projects in Jordan, the Fund has ensured a positive impact on the lives of thousands of Jordanians and helped Jordan’s government to fulfil its socio-economic plans and development goals,” said Mohammed Saif Al Suwaidi, director general at the Abu Dhabi Fund for Development.
The power plant is being built in the south of Jordan and was inaugurated by Hani Fawzi Al Mulki, Prime Minister of Jordan in the presence of Saleh Kharabsheh, Jordanian Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources, Adel Al Hosani, director of the Operations Department at ADFD, Mubarak Al Ketbi, consul general at the UAE Embassy in Jordan and several other senior Jordanian officials.
“In line with its focus on inclusive social and economic development across developing countries, ADFD has prioritised renewable energy as a catalyst for growth, enabling the provision of clean, reliable and affordable power that boosts incomes and enhances energy security,” added Suwaidi.
According to an ADFD statement, the project’s scope includes the provision of electrical switches, a medium voltage and signal cable system, transformers and all required equipment to connect the plant to the national power grid. Civil construction works, roads and safety systems as well as overall project operation and management are also part of the ADFD’s support package.
