7 companies selected to implement Green Corridor project — minister

AMMAN – Energy Minister Ibrahim Saif on Tuesday said that seven international companies had been selected to implement the Green Corridor project, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.

The project aims to increase the national grid’s capacity to absorb the load generated by new renewable energy projects, Saif told Petra.

Three committees have studied the bids presented by 82 companies and selected seven qualified firms to execute the project, the minister said. 

The government has referred its selection to the European Investment Bank (EIB), which leads the project funding process, he added.

The project is expected to cost $159.7 million. The EIB is lending $72 million and the French Development Agency is providing a $54.9 million soft loan, Petra reported. 

The EU is providing a $20.2 million grant through the Neighbourhood Investment Facility and the National Electric Power Company (NEPCO) is contributing $12.6 million, according to Petra.   

The project will be established in the southern region to  increase NEPCO’s efficiency by building cables and expanding power stations to absorb the load generated by wind and solar power.  It is part of the national strategy to source 10 per cent of energy from renewable sources by 2020.