Solar, wind projects to help power West Bank
A project jointly funded by the EU Commission and France will build infrastructure to harness renewable energy in the northern West Bank.
RAMALLAH, West Bank — The Palestinian Authority is working to incorporate renewable energy in the northern West Bank's water infrastructure in cooperation with the European Union and the French Development Agency.
The project, launched June 20, concerns the governorates of Tubas and Jenin, where it will add solar cells and establish wind turbines, a first for Palestine. The energy produced is to be used for water projects including water treatment stations, thereby reducing the costs that the PA pays to import electricity from Israel.
Shadi Othman, the spokesman for the EU Commission in Jerusalem, told Al-Monitor that the project will cost a total of $20.3 million, of which $9 million have been provided by the European Union and $11.3 million by the French Development Agency.
Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammed Shtayyeh was there to ceremonially open the project, accompanied by French Consul General Pierre Cochard, EU Deputy Representative Thomas Nicholas and a number of Palestinian officials.
