UAE flagship RE developer Masdar has signed an MoU with Jordan’s Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources to explore collaboration in renewable energy projects with a total capacity of up to 2-GW.
The MoU was signed by Dr Sultan Al Jaber, UAE Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology and Chairman of Masdar, and Dr Saleh Al-Kharabsheh, the Jordanian Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources, on the sidelines of COP27.
Dr Sultan Al Jaber, Masdar, Chairman, said, “The projects being explored through this memorandum would support Jordan’s ambitious renewable energy goals and help to ensure energy security for the nation. As we look toward hosting COP28 in the UAE next year, Masdar is dedicated to supporting our neighboring countries in the Middle East in their energy transitions.”
Dr Al-Kharabsheh said, “Jordan is already a pioneer in renewable energy development in the region, where it currently produces around 29 percent of its electricity from renewable sources, and aims to increase this share to 50 percent by 2030. The country is also looking to become a regional hub for green energy production benefiting from the abundance of renewable energy energies, in addition to its central location in the Middle East and Africa.”
The company said that the MoU includes exchange of expertise and knowledge in the areas of renewable energy and infrastructure development, including electricity transformation, distribution, and exportation.
Mohamed Jameel Al Ramahi, CEO, Masdar, said, “Masdar has been a proud partner of Jordan for nearly 10 years, helping to deliver pioneering renewable energy projects that contribute to the country’s sustainable development. With this latest MoU, we hope to increase the impact and depth of our collaboration with Jordan in the area of renewable energy.”
Masdar In Jordan
Through the new agreement, Masdar looks to significantly increase its renewable energy footprint in Jordan, which currently includes two major renewable energy plants.
In 2015, Masdar delivered the Tafila Wind Farm in Jordan, the first commercial utility-scale wind power project in the Middle East. The 117-MW wind farm increased the country’s total power capacity by 3 percent.
Masdar was also the developer and lead partner on the 200 MW Baynouna project, located east of Amman, which is the largest single solar energy project in Jordan.
