The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) is addressing acute energy shortages in Jordan with a loan to finance the construction of the country’s first district cooling and heating plant, at the Abdali Urban Regeneration development in the capital, Amman.The US$ 30 million loan to Jordan District Energy will fund the construction of a permanent plant with a high capacity for cooling and heating that can serve the entire development, a major commercial centre.
The new facility will cut energy consumption by 41 per cent a year and reduce annual CO2 emissions by 13,700 tonnes.
EBRD President Sir Suma Chakrabarti said at the signing ceremony in Jordan: “This project underlines our commitment to supporting the energy sector in Jordan. The new plant will help make the Abdali development energy efficient and thereby sustainable. What is being achieved here will set the standard for the construction of similar commercial developments in the future and will also raise the profile of Amman as a business hub.”
Mr George Amireh, Acting General Manager of Jordan District Energy, said: “We greatly appreciate the EBRD’s cooperation in working with us to meet the new downtown area’s cooling and heating needs in a sustainable manner.”
In 2013 the Bank made a related US$ 80 million loan for the Abdali Mall, a retail and entertainment centre serving the development.
So far the EBRD has invested €203 million in seven projects in Jordan covering various sectors. The Bank has also initiated technical assistance programmes for the benefit of approximately 53 small and medium-sized Jordanian enterprises.
