Under the patronage of the Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources, Dr. Saleh A. Al-Kharabsheh, and in partnership with AES Jordan, SOS Children's Villages Jordan launched the Renewable Energy Project in Amman Children's Village on Wednesday. The project aims to enhance the quality of life for children in the village, promote the concept of sustainable environmental responsibility, and achieve it by providing safe, reliable, and sustainable energy.
Representatives from relevant institutions and partners attended the opening, where they received an explanation about the operation of renewable energy systems in the three villages under the Association in Amman, Irbid, and Aqaba. These systems were provided by AES Jordan, in line with the company's green community partnership principle, which supports local communities by providing sustainable energy solutions to reduce operational costs and carbon emissions. AES Jordan installed a 160 kW solar energy system in SOS Villages in Amman, Aqaba, and Irbid, and also supported the installation of 51 air conditioning units in Amman children's village to improve the living conditions for beneficiaries, service providers, and staff while significantly reducing electricity consumption.
In his welcoming address, Eng. Mustafa Al Wishah, Chairman of the Board of Directors of SOS Children's Villages Jordan, expressed his delight at the project's inauguration. This project represents a fundamental step for the association towards achieving its future strategy, aiming to conserve the consumption of natural resources and preserve them. He noted that the Association began implementing various environmental projects since the beginning of 2015, such as rainwater collection and use for irrigation, water and waste recycling, plastic houses, organic farming, and the launch of this important project.
Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources, Dr. Saleh A. Al-Kharabsheh, stated that according to the 2022 Arab Future Energy Index (AFEX) report prepared by the The Regional Center for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (RCREEE), Jordan ranked first in the region in the composite power capacity percentage of renewable energy sources for electricity generation, excluding hydroelectric power. The composite generation capacity of electricity projects from renewable energy sources reached around 6 GW by the end of 2022, contributing to approximately 27% of our electricity needs.
He emphasized the importance of providing renewable energy to SOS Children's Villages Jordan, stating that the project being celebrated today is a significant contribution to improving the children's quality of life and supports the principles of sustainability and clean energy. It also saves about 50,000 Jordanian Dinars annually and adds another building block to the foundations that we have previously laid in Jordan to achieve our strategic goals towards sustainable local energy.
Minister Al-Kharabsheh praised the generous donation from AES Jordan to SOS Children's Villages to cover the costs of installing and operating solar energy systems in all three SOS Villages in Amman, Irbid, and Aqaba.
SOS Children's Villages operates within the framework of the global agenda to achieve Sustainable Development Goals and has initiated several projects to align with the global trend towards environmental sustainability, including Goal 13, which is climate action, Goal 7, focusing on affordable and clean energy, Goal 12, responsible consumption and production, and Goal 17, partnerships for the goals.
SOS Children's Villages Jordan provides alternative care for children and youth who lack parental care or are at risk of losing it, and supports youth till the age of 24 helping them reach independence. What distinguishes its care model is providing integrated care for children and youth, by covering all their needs including care, accommodation, education & skills, protection & social inclusion, food security, physical health, livelihood, and social & emotional wellbeing. The association is guided by the UN Guidelines for the Alternative Care for Children and the Convention on the Rights of the Child issued by the United Nations. The Association also aligns its efforts with the principles of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, where the goals of the United Nations for sustainable development come within the focus of the its work and strategy.
It's worth noting that AES Jordan is a coalition of American AES Corporation, Japanese Mitsui, and Qatari Nebras, operating in Jordan since 2007. It generates electricity with a capacity of about 14 percent of the kingdom's electricity demand.