Saudi Arabia's first wind farm, the biggest in the Middle East, has started producing electricity after connecting to the grid as the kingdom plans to account for almost half of the region's wind capacity additions by 2028.
Dumat Al Jandal, which is being developed by France’s EDF and Abu Dhabi’s Masdar, has produced its first carbon-free megawatt-hours (MWh) of energy and will help bolster Saudi Arabia's network during the hot summer months when electricity consumption is at its peak, the companies said.
"We are now looking forward to successfully reaching, with our partners and contractors, the full commissioning of the project in the months to come," Olivier Marchand, project director of Dumat Al Jandal Wind Co for Energy, said.
When complete, the 400MW wind farm will generate carbon-free energy to power up to 70,000 Saudi households, while saving 988,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide per year, as part of the kingdom's plans to turn green its power mix.
Saudi Arabia, the world's largest exporter of oil, plans to generate 50 per cent of its energy from clean sources as the country seeks to diversify its economy and reduce its reliance on hydrocarbons.
The Dumat Al Jandal wind farm consists of 99 wind turbines from supplier and EPC contractor Vestas, each with a power output of 4.2 MW.
Construction began in September 2019 and the wind turbine erection works are "near completion", the companies said.
"The successful connection of the project to the electricity transmission grid marks an important milestone for this landmark project in the kingdom and we look forward to project’s completion in the near future," Osama Al Othman, country representative for Saudi Arabia at Masdar, said.
The wind farm project created more than 600 local jobs during the construction phase, the companies said. Saudi Arabia's economic diversification agenda is focused on creating new jobs for young Saudi nationals.
The Dumat Al Jandal wind farm will supply electricity under a 20-year power purchase agreement with the Saudi Power Procurement Company, a subsidiary of the Saudi Electricity Company, which is the Saudi power generation and distribution company.
In April, the kingdom's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman said the country plans to add gas and renewables capacity equating to one million barrels of oil per day by 2030.
One in nine do not have enough to eat
Created in 1961, the World Food Programme is pledged to fight hunger worldwide as well as providing emergency food assistance in a crisis.
One of the organisation’s goals is the Zero Hunger Pledge, adopted by the international community in 2015 as one of the 17 Sustainable Goals for Sustainable Development, to end world hunger by 2030.
The WFP, a branch of the United Nations, is funded by voluntary donations from governments, businesses and private donations.
Almost two thirds of its operations currently take place in conflict zones, where it is calculated that people are more than three times likely to suffer from malnutrition than in peaceful countries.
It is currently estimated that one in nine people globally do not have enough to eat.
On any one day, the WFP estimates that it has 5,000 lorries, 20 ships and 70 aircraft on the move.
Outside emergencies, the WFP provides school meals to up to 25 million children in 63 countries, while working with communities to improve nutrition. Where possible, it buys supplies from developing countries to cut down transport cost and boost local economies.
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Expo details
Expo 2020 Dubai will be the first World Expo to be held in the Middle East, Africa and South Asia
The world fair will run for six months from October 20, 2020 to April 10, 2021.
It is expected to attract 25 million visits
Some 70 per cent visitors are projected to come from outside the UAE, the largest proportion of international visitors in the 167-year history of World Expos.
More than 30,000 volunteers are required for Expo 2020
The site covers a total of 4.38 sqkm, including a 2 sqkm gated area
It is located adjacent to Al Maktoum International Airport in Dubai South
Results
1.30pm Handicap (PA) Dh50,000 (Dirt) 1,400m
Winner Al Suhooj, Saif Al Balushi (jockey), Khalifa Al Neyadi (trainer)
2pm Handicap (TB) 68,000 (D) 1,950m
Winner Miracle Maker, Xavier Ziani, Salem bin Ghadayer
2.30pm Maiden (TB) Dh60,000 (D) 1,600m
Winner Mazagran, Tadhg O’Shea, Satish Seemar
3pm Handicap (TB) Dh84,000 (D) 1,800m
Winner Tailor’s Row, Royston Ffrench, Salem bin Ghadayer
3.30pm Handicap (TB) Dh76,000 (D) 1,400m
Winner Alla Mahlak, Adrie de Vries, Rashed Bouresly
4pm Maiden (TB) Dh60,000 (D) 1,200m
Winner Hurry Up, Royston Ffrench, Salem bin Ghadayer
4.30pm Handicap (TB) Dh68,000 (D) 1,200m
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UAE v Ireland
1st ODI, UAE win by 6 wickets
2nd ODI, January 12
3rd ODI, January 14
4th ODI, January 16
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