Photovoltaic power plant expected to commence full production by 2012 in Jordan

Shams Ma'an will be the fruit of an agreement to be signed between Kawar Energy ((leading a consortium of Solar Ventures and 1st International for Investment and Trade Company) and Ma'an Development Company (MDC).

Karim Kawar, chairman of Kawar Energy who is taking the lead in forming the consortium portrays Shams Ma'an as a giant step Jordan will be undertaking toward long-term energy independence and a green environment.

"In addition to enhancing Jordan's renewable energy industry and supporting the EDAMA initiative, Shams Ma'an will have a strong positive impact on the socioeconomic of southern Jordan by creating hundreds of jobs during the construction phase and consequent operations. Furthermore, in collaboration with local universities and stakeholders, Shams Ma'an will create a regional leading center of excellence for renewable energy research and development," explains Kawar.

MDC would contribute the land that will become the home of some 360,000 to one million PV panels, depending on the technology used, during the project's first phase.

"This project is in line with and enforces MDC's mandate in creating a solar hub in Jordan for training, research and development in addition to attracting solar technology companies and investors which will have a profound social and economical impact on Ma'an," says Mohammed Turk, CEO of MDC.

CEO of Kawar Energy, Hanna Zaghloul elaborates, "Shams Ma'an will not only be contributing to Jordan's renewable energy planned target, but equally important, it will prevent the equivalence of 160,000 tons of CO2 emission. Jordan imports 96% of its energy and is considered one of the world's ten poorest counties in water resources. Yet Jordan is blessed with its sun especially in the southern parts that have excellent irradiation indexes making it one of the world's ideal places for Solar Energy production."