Nebras Power Opens Shams Ma'an Solar Power Plant in Jordan

Doha, October 11 (QNA) - Nebras Power, of which Qatar Electricity and Water Company has majority ownership, has officially launched the Shams Ma'an solar power project in Jordan, which started commercial operation in September and was completed ahead of schedule, the company said Tuesday in a press release. The generated electricity will be sold to the National Electric Power Company (NEPCO) in Jordan under a 20-year power purchase agreement (PPA) signed between the project company and NEPCO. The official launch of the power plant took place under the patronage of King Abdullah II of Jordan and in the presence of Jordanian Prime Minister Hani Al-Mulki and a number of ministers, senior officials and notables of Ma'an city. "The potential that renewable energy provides, qualifies it to be one of the basic components of the energy mix in countries that have scares quantities of conventional fuels," Nebras Power Chairman Fahad bin Hamad Al Mohannadi said. "While projections indicate that demand for energy will rapidly increase in the coming years, we are confident that renewable energy which environmental friendly will play an important role in satisfying this demand, particularly in countries having rapid growth in energy demand," he added. In turn, Nebras Power Chief Executive Officer Khalid Jolo expressed his delight at the inauguration of the project that expands the "strong partnership" with Jordan and boosts Nebras Power investments in the country. "Nebras Power is proceeding with its commitment to expand its investments in a planned manner with a commitment to remain within the core business of the company. This step comes in line with the long-term strategy to enforce and expand Nebras Power's international presence by developing a balanced portfolio which includes assets working with different types of fuel including environmental friendly projects," Jolo said. "The importance of the inauguration of this plant is not only in supplying the electrical power to the Jordanian grid, but also emphasizing the key role that renewable energy can take, especially solar, in the development of the country," he added. For his part, Nebras Director of Business Development Department Faisal Al-Siddiqi said the completion of the construction of the power plant underlines Jordan's determination to "reduce its dependence on conventional fuels, and its orientation to the use of renewable energy, and to move toward low-carbon emission development, and we are in Nebras Power proud to be part of this strategy by Jordan." Shams Ma'an solar power plant has been constructed in Ma'an city, about 220 kilometers southwest of Amman. It is the largest photovoltaic solar power plant in the Middle East in commercial operation. The plant's capacity is 52.5 MW and, at the moment, generates more than 30 percent of the electricity generated using solar energy in Jordan. This percentage will reach about 16 percent of the total electricity generated after the completion of the second phase of solar projects under construction in Jordan. Nebras Power Company was established in 2014 as a Qatari joint stock company by Qatar Electricity and Water Company (60 percent), Qatar Petroleum International Limited (20 percent) and Qatar Holding (20 percent). The paid up capital for Nebras Power is $1 billion and the company invests internationally through investments in new and existing projects and through the acquisition of power generation and water desalination and treatment projects, cooling and heating projects. The company also will invest in LNG facilities and fuel loading and unloading facilities related to power plant projects. (QNA)