GAM’s Solar Village Project to provide energy to 30,000 underprivileged households

AMMAN — The Greater Amman Municipality (GAM) is planning to sign an agreement next week to start executing the Solar Village Project, which aims to create a solar power plant to cover the cost of electricity for 30,000 unprivileged households in Amman. 

The project is overseen by Meqdad Rababaa, director of the Sustainability and Renewable Energies Department at the GAM. 

In a statement e-mailed to The Jordan Times, Rababaa said that the new solar power plant will provide electricity to those living in “less fortunate homes whose consumption doesn’t exceed the 150KW per hour, or the rate of JD50 per month”.

The project is also aimed at cutting down the costs of the GAM, providing electricity for all of its buildings, gardens, playgrounds and street lighting, according to Rababaa. 

The project was implemented through a donation by KBW Jordan and Saudi Prince Khaled Bin Alwaleed, who signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the GAM earlier this year. 

“The agreement follows the directions of His Majesty King Abdullah, who pointed out the need to develop the area of East Amman and to relieve the citizens of the economic burdens,” said Rababaa. 

“Furthermore, the project will also eliminate the public costs of lighting and electricity for the city of Amman, which will be reflected positively on the services provided by the GAM,” he continued. 

Lastly, Rababaa pointed out that the project “demonstrates the strategic orientation of the GAM to move towards sustainable development by reducing the environmental impact of carbon emissions produced by the generation of electricity from conventional fuel sources”.