Inauguration of 120MW Khalladi Wind farm in Morocco
Friday, 29 June : ACWA Power today inaugurated its 120 MW Khalladi wind farm in Melloussa, Tangier, which will supply clean power in Morocco at competitive prices. The wind farm, developed by ACWA Power in collaboration with ARIF investment fund, and located at Jbel Sendouq, 30 km from Tangiers, represents an investment of 1.7 billion dirhams (~170 mUSD).
The project was financed under a long-term debt, mainly with the contribution of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) in collaboration with the Clean Technology Fund (CTF), and the Moroccan bank BMCE Bank of Africa. It should be mentioned that the Khalladi project will be the first project of renewable energy financed by the EBRD in Morocco.
The plant will produce around 380 GWh annually to supply major industrial customers. Power generation at the wind farm will be equivalent to the yearly average consumption of a city of 400,000 people.
With renewables playing an important role in the overall development of countries in Africa, including Morocco, the Khalladi project is assisting Morocco to meet its 2020 target of increasing renewables into its energy mix up to a capacity of 42% and its aim to develop 2,000 MW of wind capacity by 2020. The wind farm will contribute to the reduction of more than 144,000 tons of CO2 emissions per year.