Jerusalem – Ma’an – The Jerusalem District Electricity Company celebrated, on Tuesday, the launch of the solar power plant located on the lands of Aqabat Jaber camp, southwest of Jericho.
The ceremony, which was held in Jericho, was attended by the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Jerusalem District Electricity Company, Eng. Hisham Al-Omari, the General Manager of the Company, Eng. Mohammed Zidan, the Governor of Jericho and the Jordan Valley, Dr. Hussein Hamayel, the Chairman of the Energy and Natural Resources Authority, Eng. Zafer Melhem, the Governor of the Palestine Monetary Authority, Dr. Firas Melhem, the General Manager of the Bank of Palestine, Mr. Mahmoud Shawa, and a group of national and economic figures.
‘This project is an important addition to the company’s journey towards a more sustainable, stable future, free from dependence on the energy sector, which reflects the company’s commitment to contributing to achieving our vision of sustainable development and the shift towards renewab
le energy sources, by integrating them into the electrical system,’ said Eng. Zidane.
He added: ‘This station added an additional capacity of 5.5 megawatts to the existing solar energy projects, bringing the total capacity of the projects implemented in the company’s concession areas to 80 megawatts, 28 megawatts of which are connected to the electrical networks in the Jericho and Jordan Valley Governorate, meaning that 35 percent of the total capacity of the solar energy projects is located in the Jericho and Jordan Valley Governorate, due to the importance of its economic and tourism activity, which is reflected in the quality and reliability of the electricity supply. By connecting this station, the percentage of renewable energy becomes 11 percent of the total energy mix on the company’s Jerusalem networks.’
He pointed out that what these ratios and numbers related to the Aqaba Jaber station translate into reality is the possibility of supplying approximately 1,000 additional homes with clean electricit
y, in addition to contributing to reducing carbon emissions by more than 6,000 tons annually, employing Palestinian workers in various fields, reducing purchases from other traditional sources, and most importantly, remaining steadfast in our land and preserving it.
Engineer Zidane stressed that in order to achieve the company’s goals, it has set its sights on increasing the production capacity of solar energy projects over the next five years to constitute 25 percent of the total sources of electrical energy, which requires all of us, individuals and institutions, to continue working hard, persevering and innovating, and developing policies and methodologies related to renewable energy, to achieve this strategic goal.
He added: ‘Since the launch of solar energy projects, the Jerusalem Electricity Company has been and still is at the forefront of distribution companies and companies operating in this sector. Its role has gone beyond adding new stations to the electrical networks, and it has insisted on lead
ing the development and initiative locomotive in this sector, by investing in its cadres, programs, equipment and mechanisms, at all technical, administrative and legal levels.’
The Chairman of the Energy Authority, Eng. Zafer Melhem, stressed that the nineteenth Palestinian government headed by Dr. Mohammad Mustafa has placed energy security at the top of its work priorities, as the government’s programs and projects focus on the energy sector, with the aim of reducing dependence on a single source and increasing local energy production through investment in alternative energy, and increasing energy production from renewable energy sources, in addition to the fact that the diversity of energy sources is very important, whether represented by regional or local interconnection, and also focusing on energy efficiency, which represents an important source of it.
He also stressed that the Energy Authority, in cooperation with all official bodies, and with the aim of encouraging investment in renewable energy, w
orked on defining the sectoral map for solar energy to identify all projects that have been implemented in the Palestinian territories in addition to the available lands that can be invested in, whether they are state lands or endowment lands. Projects to install solar panels on all roofs of mosques in the West Bank, as well as government schools and hospitals, were approved to reduce the electricity bill and preserve the environment, as part of these projects will be financed by the Islamic Development Bank.
Engineer Melhem pointed out that the Energy and Natural Resources Authority is working to review the related projects and laws, and support the encouragement of investment in solar energy projects in areas classified as “C” in the West Bank, such as the Jordan Valley and Masafer Bani Naim, in addition to other areas in the Bethlehem and Ramallah governorates.
The Chairman of the Palestine Monetary Authority, Dr. Firas Melhem, expressed his happiness at the opening of the solar power station in Jericho,
stressing that the opening of the new station is in line with the PMA’s strategy based on financing sustainability projects, considering energy production from our own resources as a good example of this.
Melhem stressed that the PMA, in cooperation with banks, established the “Sustainability Plus” program worth half a billion shekels, where more than 2,300 projects were financed at zero interest, and 270 million shekels were provided to support these projects through the Sustainability Plus Fund, noting that 25% of these projects are women’s.
Mr. Mahmoud Shawa, General Manager of Bank of Palestine, congratulated the Jerusalem District Electricity Company on the opening of the new solar power plant in Jericho, saying: ‘We meet today not only to inaugurate a new achievement, but also to prove to the world that we are capable of working, building, facing all obstacles and challenges, and continuing community development.
Al-Shawa stressed that Bank of Palestine is proud to have played a role in establishing
the solar power station, which reflects the bank’s belief in promoting development projects, most notably renewable energy projects. He pointed out that Bank of Palestine has worked in recent years to establish ‘Qudra’ Company for renewable energy projects, due to its deep belief in the importance of investing in this field.
The Governor of Jericho and the Jordan Valley, Dr. Hussein Hamayel, said: Despite the bleeding wound, this war, and the siege imposed on our people in the West Bank and Gaza alike, when we see these projects implemented by Palestinian institutions, hope remains present for us that the future belongs to the Palestinians.
Governor Hamayel addressed the attendees in a message in which he said: ‘We in the Jericho and Jordan Valley Governorate are working hard to provide the best services to our citizens through the Executive Council of the Governorate and in partnership with all official activities and the private and civil sectors, stressing that the coming days will witness the implementa
tion of a security campaign targeting all outlaws in the governorate and arresting anyone who tries to tamper with the property of others, indicating that the security establishment is fully prepared to support and back this national project that we are proud of.
The ceremony concluded with a field tour to see the work of the solar power station in Jericho.
Source: Maan News Agency