Jordanian renewable energy project in Cyprus wins Austrian award

AMMAN — A large-scale industrial solar thermal system project implemented by a Jordanian company in Cyprus has won the 2015 Energy Globe National Award, granted by Austria.

Implemented in Hellenic Copper Mines by the Amman-based Millennium Energy Industries (MEI), the system increases the yield of copper and reduces the time needed for the copper extraction process, which saves fossil fuels or electricity and reduces carbon dioxide emissions in temperatures below 100°C.

The system saves the equivalent of 138,000 litres of diesel annually, which release 367 tonnes of carbon dioxide, according to MEI General Manager Hisham Mikhi.

This kind of project can be of great economic and environmental benefits, he told The Jordan Times, adding that the scheme, with a capital recovery duration of two to three years, could be replicated in mines in Jordan.

Commenting on solar projects in Jordan, Mikhi said there are still fears of experimenting with this “new” technology.

“Jordan is capable of exporting solar energy to the world through its trained and qualified experts as well as through replication of successful projects that have put Jordan on the solar energy map,” he said, adding that MEI now has offices in Chile, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Ramallah, Kuwait and Qatar.

The Globe National Award honours projects that conserve resources, including energy, or utilise renewable or emission-free sources regionally, nationally and globally, according to Advantage Austria, the country’s trade promotion organisation, which is a partner of the Austrian Energy Globe Foundation in distributing national awards.

The award honours projects that represent sustainable solutions that “make a difference from an environmental point of view” and can be implemented on a larger scale in other areas as well, said Isabel Schmiedbauer, a counsellor at the commercial section of the Austrian embassy in Amman.

Based on a popular vote and the evaluation of a specialised jury, winning projects at the national level in some 170 participating countries compete in the international award to win in one of the earth, fire, water, air or youth categories, she added.

The winner of each category receives 10,000 euros, Schmiedbauer noted, adding that the upcoming award ceremony for the global award will be held in Tehran on January 16, 2016.

Commenting on the award, Jordan Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Fund Director Rasmi Hamzeh expressed “pride” in Jordanian companies with international presence and excellence.

He added that the fund’s budget for renewable energy projects over the next three years is $60 million, a figure that is expected to generate businesses worth $200 million.

The three-year plan includes the installation of 200,000 solar water heaters as well as 50,000 photovoltaic solar systems and 500,000 LED lamps, according to Hamzeh.

Jordan-Austria trade ties

In an interview with The Jordan Times on the sidelines of the award ceremony, held late last week, Schmiedbauer said there is room for the trade volume between Jordan and Austria to grow.

She noted that Jordan’s imports from Austria in 2014 reached 69.5 million euros, while the Kingdom’s exports to Austria reached 2.6 million euros in the same year, including clothes and textiles as well as custom-made jewellery.

Austria recently hosted two major events on Jordan to present the opportunities that the Kingdom has to offer as a market but also as “a hub in the region”, according to the Austrian official, who added that an Austrian delegation is scheduled to visit Amman in October to discuss business opportunities.

Advantage Austria’s office in Amman, one of around 100 worldwide, serves Lebanon, Syria and Iraq as well.