wiredInUSA December 2019

Southeast Asia developments

Solar development in Jordan

In collaboration with Abdul Latif Jameel Energy, FRV has developed three solar projects in Jordan. Photograph courtesy of FRV – Al Safawi Fotowatio Renewable Ventures (FRV), a developer of renewable utility-scale projects and part of Abdul Latif Jameel Energy, has inaugurated its 50MW Mafraq I and Empire PV plants. The plants represent a total investment of $180 million and created approximately 500 jobs during the construction phase. The facilities will supply about 1.5 percent of Jordan’s total power generation capacity; Jordan aims to deliver 10 percent of total power generation through clean energy by 2020. In collaboration with Abdul Latif Jameel Energy, FRV has developed three solar projects in Jordan, the third being the 66.7MW Al Safawi (66.7MW) in northern Jordan, which started commercial operations in April 2019. Plans are already underway for a fourth 50MW plant, having won a competitive tender by the Water Authority of Jordan (WAJ). The project will be located in Al Dulail Industrial Park. Once completed, FRV will have developed approximately 270MW in Jordan. The four solar plants will supply over 600GWh per year in Jordan, approximately 3 percent of the country’s total electricity generation.

Hajime Miyazaki

NTT has launched a new subsea cable unit in Singapore. The new joint venture company, Orient Link, has been formed with partners of the Fund Corporation for the overseas development of Japan’s ICT and postal services (JICT) and WEN Capital (WEN). NTT holds a 42 percent stake in Orient Link, with JICT and WEN holding 38 percent and 20 percent respectively. Hajime Miyazaki, director of the London unit, NTT, confirmed that Orient Link had plans to start laying a new cable before the end of 2019. The new system, to the financial hub of Singapore, is due to be completed within two years. Earlier in 2019, NTT also confirmed plans to expand its subsea cable network to India in order to offer broadband services in the country. Once completed the newly expanded network will allow NTT to compete with companies such as Tata Communications, Airtel and Sify, to offer connectivity to the international cable landing station in Mumbai. “We are planning to bring international fiber to India at some point of time,” said Sharad Sanghi, MD and CEO of Netmagic, an NTT subsidiary.

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wiredInUSA December 2019