KEPCO builds wind farm in Jordan

KEPCO builds wind farm in Jordan

source KEPCO

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By Lee Hyo-sik

Korea Electric Power Corp. (KEPCO) has begun the construction of an 89.1MW wind power plant in Amman, Jordan, solidifying its status as a leading utility firm in the Middle Eastern country. The state-run utility firm already operates two coal-powered plants there, accounting for 24 percent of the nation’s power demand.

Project location map

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Hosted by CEO Cho Hwan-eik, KEPCO held a groundbreaking ceremony for the Jordan Fujeij Wind Farm, Monday, inviting more than 150 Jordanian government officials and business leaders.

The company expects it will cost about $184 million to construct the plant by October 2018. KEPCO estimates it will earn about $570 million by operating the facility for 20 years.

“The planned wind farm, when it goes into operation, will significantly bolster Jordan’s power supply capacity,” Cho said. “This project will serve as momentum for both Korea and Jordan to further cooperate on energy production.”

KEPCO was selected as a preferred bidder for the scheme in 2013 and signed a contract two years later.

Over the past decade, the utility has constructed and operated wind farms and solar power plants in Japan, the United States and other countries, the CEO said, stressing his continuing commitment to invest on expanding KEPCO’s presence in the global renewable energy industry.

Besides two coal-powered plants in Jordan, KEPCO runs two more plants in the Middle East, one in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and the other in Saudi Arabia. It is currently undertaking a $20 billion project started in December 2009 to build four nuclear reactors in the UAE.

leehs@ktimes.com

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