Al-Mujib Project.. 450 MW to enhance energy security and accommodate renewables
Amman3 min read
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The Al-Mujib pumped-storage hydroelectricity project enhances the flexibility of the electrical system in Jordan by providing a storage capacity of up to 450 MW for seven hours, supporting grid stability, increasing the capacity to accommodate renewable energy, and contributing to reducing generation costs during peak times.
In statements to "Alrai", the Director General of the National Electric Power Company (NEPCO), Dr. Amjad Al-Rawashdeh, said that the project is part of the comprehensive plan the company is preparing to identify the most economically and technically optimal alternatives for expanding electricity generation and storage, in line with the growth of electrical loads in the Kingdom.
Al-Rawashdeh explained that the project consists of two units, each with a capacity of 225 MW, and relies on a closed-loop system through two reservoirs separate from the Al-Mujib Dam, between which about 2.8 million cubic meters of water are circulated, filled once, with compensation for annual losses resulting from evaporation.
He indicated that the mechanism is based on using available electricity during low-demand hours to pump water to the upper reservoir, then reusing it to generate electricity during peak hours, which enhances energy security and reduces the need to build additional conventional power plants to cover rising demand.
He added that the project contributes to addressing the intermittency in solar and wind energy production and improving the stability of the electrical grid, allowing for the expansion of renewable energy projects and better utilization of the electricity produced from them, in addition to improving the operational efficiency of existing power plants and reducing fuel consumption and carbon emissions.
Al-Rawashdeh pointed out that the technical operational life of the project exceeds 70 years, making it a long-term investment in the energy sector's infrastructure, in addition to the possibility of using it as a model for developing similar storage projects and localizing technical expertise in this field.
He added that the project represents an opportunity to attract investments and concessional financing, including green financing, in light of its importance within the trends of developing the energy sector and enhancing environmental sustainability.
The Ministry of Investment had issued a call for pre-qualification for the project in partnership with the private sector, according to the Build-Operate-Own (BOO) system, to be the first investment project of its kind offered through the investment portal, with the aim of enhancing the flexibility of the electrical system, increasing the absorption of renewable energy, reducing reliance on imported fuel, and providing new and direct job opportunities.
