Tafila Wind

active

The project consists of the construction, operation and maintenance of a 117 MW wind farm and associated facilities (a 33kV / 132kV substation, a 250m 132kV connection line to the existing transmission line, and a network of access roads of about 5m wide to connect among wind turbine generators) in the Tafila region of Jordan some 180 km south of Amman and 180 km north of the Port of Aqaba (the Project). The Project will be an independent power producer (“IPP”) and all the output generated will be sold to the country’s single buyer, National Electric Power Company (“NEPCO”), under a 20-year Power Purchase Agreement (“PPA”). The Project is expected to be Jordan’s first renewable energy IPP.The Project comprises 38Vestas V112 wind turbine generators of 3.075MW each. 4 turbines have a hub height of 84m , while 34 turbines have a hub height of 94m . The turbine rotor diameter is 112m. The Project is owned by the Jordan Wind Project Company (“JWPC”, or the “Company”), incorporated under the laws of Jordan and held 51% by EP Global Energy Ltd (“EPGE”) and 49% by InfraMed Infrastructure (“InfraMed”) (together the “Sponsors”). EPGE is a wind farm development company associated with the J&P group of Cyprus. InfraMed is a Paris-based fund, owned by a number of European public sector institutions, with a focus on developing infrastructure in the Mediterranean region. The Project will be developed and operated by Vestas under a comprehensive Design, Build, Operate and Maintain (“DBOM”) contract. The Project will be connected to the national grid through an existing 132kV Rashidiya-Al Hasa transmission line that runs through the Project site. The Project site is located on rural land in the Governorate of Tafila, east of the town of Gharandil and north of the existing LaFarge Rashidiya cement plant. The Dana Biosphere Reserve is located south west of the Project area, with a distance of about 4.3 km between the reserve border and the Project site border. The Project area is moderately hilly and rocky, with sparse vegetation. Elevation of the Project area varies from 1,400 to 1,600 m above sea level. There are seasonal grazing activities in the area (sheep, goats) and wheat cultivation. There are no permanent dwellings or other structure in the Project area that would be affected by the Project. The Project area was selected based on its low intensity of human settlements, proximity to existing transmission infrastructure, expected favorable wind resource, and its low impacts on nature and the environment. The Company will acquire about 11.7 km2 through lease agreement, partly with government entities and partly with private owners. The acquisition is not expected to involve any economic or physical relocation of people. A Resettlement Policy Framework was prepared in line with IFC Performance Standards, in case involuntary resettlement becomes necessary. The total Project cost is estimated at US$302 million, of which IFC’s investment is expected to consist of a combination of an A Loan and C Loan up to US$75 million to the Company for IFC’s own account. IFC will arrange additional funding amounting to US$141 million.