Attarat Power Plant

Summary

Attarat Power Plant is an oil shale-fueled power plant constructed in the Attarat Umm Ghudran area, 50 kilometres (31 mi) east of Al Qatranah, in Jordan. The project is developed by the Attarat Power Company (APCO), a partnership between YTL Power International (45%), Guangdong Energy Group Co., Ltd. (45%) and Eesti Energia (10%).[1] It is the first oil shale power plant in Jordan and the largest private sector project in Jordan to date.[2]

Attarat Power Plant
Map
CountryJordan
LocationAttarat Umm Ghudran
Coordinates31°16′08″N 36°26′52″E / 31.2689°N 36.4477°E / 31.2689; 36.4477
StatusUnder construction
Construction began16 March 2017
Commission date25 October 2022 (Unit 1) 26 May 2023 (Unit 2)
Construction cost2.1 Billion USD
Owner(s)YTL Power International (45%)
Guangdong Energy Group Co., Ltd. (45%)
Eesti Energia (10%)
Operator(s)Attarat Power Company
Thermal power station
Primary fuelOil shale
Power generation
Units operational2 X 235 MW
Make and modelSiemens
Units planned2 x 235 MW (net)
Nameplate capacity470 MW
External links
Websiteattaratpower.com.jo

History edit

The project was originally developed by an Estonian power company Eesti Energia (Enefit). The concession agreement between the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources and National Electricity Power Company of Jordan, and Eesti Energia was signed on 30 April 2008.[3][4] In 2010, YTL Power International bought a 30% stake in the project.[1]

A 30-year power purchase agreement (PPA) was signed with Jordan in October 2014.[5] The construction agreement was signed on 12 January 2016.[6] The financial closure agreement was signed on 16 March 2017.[7] At the same time, YTL Power International increased its stake in the project up to 45% and Guangdong Energy Group Co., Ltd. became a new shareholder also with 45% stake.[1] Construction started shortly after.[7]

Technical description edit

The power plant has 554 MW (gross) and 477 MW (net) capacity.[7] It will consist of two circulating-fluidized-bed units.[8]

The power plant consumes 10 million tons of oil shale per year which will be provided from the nearby open-pit mine and it is also the biggest mine in Jordan.[8] Over its 40-year lifetime it would need an oil-shale mining area of approximately 11 square kilometres (4.2 sq mi).[9]

The plant is among the largest power plants in Jordan (the largest being Aqaba Thermal Power Station), and the largest oil shale-fired power plant in the world after Narva Power Plants in Estonia.[10][11][12]

Financing edit

The project costed US$2.1 billion.[7] Shareholders will invest $528 million and the rest will be financed by $1.6 billion loan provided by the Bank of China and the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China, and guaranteed by China Export and Credit Insurance Corporation.[1] This is the largest private project financing supported by China Export and Credit Insurance Corporation to date.[2]

Construction edit

The plant is designed by WorleyParsons. The engineering, procurement and construction contract was awarded to Guangdong Power Engineering Corporation, a subsidiary of China Energy Engineering Group. The power plant would be designed by WorleyParsons. It would use boilers provided by Foster Wheeler, and the turbine and generator by Siemens.[13]

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ a b c d "YTL poised to start US$2.1bil power project in Jordan". The Star. 2017-03-16. Retrieved 2017-03-17.
  2. ^ a b "Attarat Power Company financial close for the USD 2.1 billion Oil Shale Power Project in Jordan" (Press release). Enefit. 2017-03-16. Retrieved 2018-08-20.
  3. ^ "Jordan's first oil shale power plant expected in 7 years". Jordan Times. 2008-05-01. Archived from the original on 2011-06-11. Retrieved 2008-07-19.
  4. ^ Taimre, Sandra (2008-04-30). "Eesti Energia signed an exclusive contract with Jordan". BBN. Retrieved 2008-07-19.
  5. ^ "Attarat Power Company signs PPA for 554MW Jordan oil shale fired power project". IPP Journal. 2014-10-07. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2014-12-19. Retrieved 2014-11-19.
  6. ^ "Energy: 1.6 $billion to fund oil shale energy project". ANSAmed. 2016-01-12. Retrieved 2016-01-16.
  7. ^ a b c d Ghazal, Mohammad (2017-03-16). "All set for building oil shale-fired power plant". Jordan Times. Retrieved 2017-03-17.
  8. ^ a b "Jordan has 80-million-ton stockpile of oil shale". Jordan News Agency. 2012-12-17. Archived from the original on 2015-12-08. Retrieved 2012-12-31.
  9. ^ Derhally, Massoud A. (2012-12-23). "Bids for Jordan's first oil shale power plant expected in February". Arabian Business. Retrieved 2013-01-04.
  10. ^ "Estonia to build oil shale plant in Jordan" (PDF). The Baltic Times. 2008-05-08. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2011-07-20. Retrieved 2008-07-19.
  11. ^ Fuel Switching Project of the Aqaba Thermal Power Station (ATPS) (PDF) (Report). UNFCCC. 2006-06-28. Retrieved 2008-07-19.
  12. ^ Bains, Elizabeth (2008-06-01). "Jordan orders oil shale plant". Arabian Business. Archived from the original on 2008-06-02. Retrieved 2008-07-19.
  13. ^ "Preliminary Agreement Reached With Chinese Builder for Oil Shale Power Station in Jordan". ERR. 2013-12-17. Retrieved 2014-01-19.