Portugal-based Martifer Solar has said that it will soon break ground on four solar photovoltaic (PV) power plants totalling 57MWp in Jordan
The company has been awarded the projects as power purchase agreements under the first round of Jordan?s National Renewable Energy Plan (NREP).
Three of the projects have an individual capacity of 11 MWp each and are located near the city of Ma?an in south-central Jordan. The fourth project, largest of the four with a capacity of 24 MWp, will be constructed near Mafraq, a town in northern Jordan.
Martifer Solar will provide the engineering, procurement and construction and perform the subsequent operation and maintenance for all four solar PV projects.
Henrique Rodrigues, CEO of Martifer Solar, said, ?Jordan currently imports 95 per cent of its power needs, which costs approximately a fifth of the country?s GDP, and the development and construction of renewable energy projects such as these will be essential for its future.?
All four projects are part of the World Bank?s International Finance Corporation?s (IFC) ?Seven Sisters? financing package, which will provide a total of US$207mn in debt financing for seven projects awarded under the first round of Jordan?s NREP. IFC was the lead arranger for the financing, together with a syndicate of other financers including Bahrain?s Arab Bank, the European Arab Bank, FMO, FinnFund and OPEC?s Fund for International Development.
The projects reached financial close at the end of May this year and are set to begin construction.
Eduardo Pereira, director of business development in the Middle East for Martifer Solar, said, ?We are delighted to see our construction team in place in Jordan as it is another milestone achievement following a long period of development.?
