Japan to provide $330 million for Qatar solar power plant

• 4 years ago (2020-08-14)
• David Flin

Middle East 327 Solar 273

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Japan will provide financial assistance to help build one of the world’s largest solar power plants in Qatar. According to Kyodo News, the state-backed Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC) and Mizuho Bank will extend a $330 million syndicated loan for the 800 MW project in Al Kharsaah, a village in western Qatar.

A consortium of Japanese firm Marubeni Corporation , French oil giant Total , and a Qatari energy firm will own and manage the solar power plant, which is scheduled to be operational by April 2020. The consortium will sell electricity to Qatar General Electricity and Water Corporation for 25 years.

JBIC said that the facility will use double-sided photovoltaic panels that “can also absorb sunlight reflected by the ground onto their rear side.”

The project is part of Qatar’s plans to diversify its energy sources. It aims to increase the proportion of renewable energy in its total power generation to 20 per cent by 2030.