Algerian energy company Sonelgaz has announced the partial commissioning of the country’s largest power plant, located in the province of Mostaganem. This hybrid facility aims to boost national electricity production capacity by 450 megawatts.

According to a company statement, the partial operation commenced on Thursday, July 4, 2024, with the first gas turbine coming online. Sonelgaz emphasized that this is the initial step in enhancing national production capacity by 450 megawatts. The plant joins a series of significant energy projects commissioned in recent months, further strengthening Sonelgaz’s production portfolio and supporting its national capacity to improve energy supply to citizens.

Larsen & Toubro Secures Contracts for 3.5 GW of Solar Projects in the Middle East

Larsen & Toubro (L&T) has announced that its renewable energy arm has secured significant orders from the Middle East to develop photovoltaic solar power plants with a cumulative capacity of 3.5 gigawatts.

As reported by Money control, the deal encompasses grid connection infrastructure, including substations and overhead transmission lines. Detailed engineering and preliminary construction work are expected to commence shortly. Additionally, the company has secured an order for a solar energy storage plant in India.

This latest win in the Middle East will bring L&T’s renewable energy unit portfolio to a total capacity of 22 gigawatts, encompassing operational and under-construction solar and wind power generation projects.

S.N. Subrahmanyan, CEO & MD of L&T, stated, “The Middle East is at the forefront of creating sustainable energy infrastructure and a smart lifestyle. These orders are a welcome addition to our green portfolio as we build a company for the future using next-generation technologies.”

T. Madhava Das, Whole-Time Director & Senior Executive Vice President (Utilities) at L&T, added, “Winning these back-to-back orders is a testament to our proven engineering and project management capabilities in meeting demanding requirements of plant performance, manpower mobilization, safety, quality, and on-time delivery. We are proud of this customer confidence reposed in us.”

Sharjah Breaks Ground on the Largest Solar Power Plant

The Sharjah National Oil Corporation (SNOC), in collaboration with Emerge, a joint venture between Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company (Masdar) and EDF (France), has laid the foundation stone for Sharjah’s largest solar power plant.

With a production capacity of 60 megawatts, the solar panels will be installed at SNOC’s Sajaa gas complex. The plant is expected to offset 66,000 tons of carbon emissions annually, equivalent to removing 14,600 cars from the roads.

This project supports SNOC’s strategic objective of achieving carbon neutrality by 2032. It reduces the company’s reliance on fossil fuels and provides a clean, cost-competitive energy source.

This project aligns with the UAE’s ambition to achieve climate neutrality by 2050 and bolsters efforts to build a more sustainable and environmentally responsible future at both the emirate and national levels.

Hatem Al-Mosa, CEO of SNOC, stated, “This project marks a significant milestone on our journey toward achieving carbon neutrality in our operations by 2032. It also underpins Sharjah’s sustainability agenda and commitment to protecting the environment. We are delighted to partner with Emerge, Masdar, and EDF on this strategic project, and we look forward to jointly exploring further initiatives in this field.”

Michel Abi Saab, General Manager of Emerge, commented, “We are proud to be collaborating with SNOC on this landmark project. At Emerge, we are committed to delivering comprehensive solutions to our clients like SNOC, enabling them to transition toward a more sustainable future at no upfront cost.”