Zaatari solar power project ‘largest in a refugee camp globally’

AMMAN — Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Hala Zawati said that the solar power generation project in Zaatari camp, which provides energy for 80,000 Syrian refugees, is the largest in the world in a refugee camp.

Zawati visited the project in Zaatari refugee camp, which is funded by the German Development Bank (KfW) at a value of 15 million euros, where he explained that the project helped improve the standard of living of refugees in the camp, as it doubled the hours of access to electricity from 7 to 14 per day and reduced the cost of electricity, according a Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources statement. 

He noted that the project is in line with the Jordanian policy aimed at increasing the contribution of local energy sources, especially renewable energy, to the overall energy mix and stabilising the electrical system in the Kingdom via clean sources of energy.

The minister praised the support provided by the German government to Jordan in achieving development especially in the field of energy, the statement said. 

For her part, UNHCR’s Representative Maeve Murphy said that the project is a model which UNHCR seeks to replicate in other countries, stressing the importance of continuing to provide support to Jordan to face the repercussions of the Syrian refugee crisis.

Zawati was briefed by the camp director, Colonel Ahmed Saud, about the condition and services provided at the camp, which includes about 80,000 Syrian refugees, 22 schools with 22,000 students and 3,000 shops and two hospitals.

The minister then toured the solar power plant where he reviewed its equipment and control room, according to the statement.

The project, which is the largest solar power production project in the world in a refugee camp, produces 23.26 GWh per year, which increases the hours of electricity supply to refugee homes in the camp from seven hours a day to 14 hours.