Licences granted to build two solar power plants

AMMAN — Two companies were granted licences this week to start procedures to build two solar-run power plants in the Kingdom, according to the Energy and Minerals Regulatory Commission (EMRC).

The commission gave a 20-year licence to Jordan Solar One Company to build a 23-megawatt solar-run power plant in Mafraq Governorate, EMRC Chief Commissioner Farouq Hiari said in an e-mail sent to The Jordan Times late Wednesday.

The commission also gave a 20-year licence to Scatec Solar ASA to build a 10.47-megawatt solar-fuelled power plant in the southern Governorate of Maan, he added,

The plant in Maan is expected to be completed in the second half of 2015, according to a recent announcement by the company.

“The two licences are important as they will help support the grid and rely on local resources,” Hiari noted.

Jordan, which imports 97 per cent of its energy needs annually, is implementing a strategy to increase the contribution of renewable energy to the overall energy mix to 10 per cent by 2020.

Also this week, the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources extended a deadline for companies to submit prequalification applications to build a solar plant in the southern region.

The deadline was extended from December 4 to December 18, to give companies more time to submit applications, a statement on the ministry’s website said.

Energy Minister Mohammad Hamed said the plant, which will be located in Qweira, will have a total capacity of 65-75 megawatts.

The $150 million plant will be funded by grants from Gulf Cooperation Council countries.

In 2011, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar and the UAE pledged to grant Jordan $5 billion over a five-year period.