Solar power project in Jordan funded by Abu Dhabi renamed in honour of Sheikh Zayed

Jordan has renamed a 105megawatt solar power plant after the UAE’s Founding Father, Sheikh Zayed, following the grant of Dh550 million funding by the Abu Dhabi Fund for Development.

The Sheikh Zayed Solar Power Complex, formerly the Quweira Solar Power Plant, will generate 227 gigawatt hours of power annually over a period of 20 years, with the capacity to illuminate 50,000 homes.

Energy-scarce Jordan has embarked on an ambitious programme to generate 20 per cent of its power requirements from renewables by early 2020. The kingdom currently imports oil and products to meet around 95 per cent of its energy demand, making it particularly susceptible to volatility in the oil markets.

External debt is equivalent to about 72 per cent of gross domestic product, and the country’s economy expanded 2 per cent in 2017.

“By contributing to development projects, we have enabled the creation of thousands of jobs, and driven growth in major socio-economic sectors,” said ADFD director general Mohammed Al Suwaidi.

The Abu Dhabi fund’s involvement in the Quweira project includes the provision of electrical switches, a medium voltage and signal cable system, transformers and all equipment needed to connect the plant to its national electricity grid.

The assistance also covers civil construction works, roads and safety systems as well as overall project operations and management, ADFD said.

The Sheikh Zayed Solar Power Complex involves installation of 328,320 photovoltaic panels and is set to lead to the creation of about 1,000 jobs during the construction phase then providing 30 permanent jobs during its operation and maintenance.

The scheme forms part of a wider effort by Jordan to find alternative sources of energy to lower its import bill, which reached $3 billion last year.

ADFD has funded a total of about 31 projects in Jordan valued at a total of Dh5.6 billion since 1974, spanning sectors such as mining, water and irrigation, transportation, housing, agriculture and energy, as well as education and health care.

Jordan has embarked on a programme to generate 20% of power requirements from renewables by early 2020