Solar Power Project Plan 2030, Greatest Energy Source Worldwide by 2050

A 2012 file picture shows a Saudi man walking past solar panels at the King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology, Al-Oyeynah Research Station. (Reuters)
A 2012 file picture shows a Saudi man walking past solar panels at the King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology, Al-Oyeynah Research Station. (Reuters)
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Solar Power Project Plan 2030, Greatest Energy Source Worldwide by 2050

A 2012 file picture shows a Saudi man walking past solar panels at the King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology, Al-Oyeynah Research Station. (Reuters)
A 2012 file picture shows a Saudi man walking past solar panels at the King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology, Al-Oyeynah Research Station. (Reuters)

The launching of Solar Power Project Plan 2030 grabbed the attention of a number of energy experts in the world, especially after the kingdom’s announcement that it intends to produce 200 gigawatt of solar energy by 2030.

The purposes of this project goes in tandem with the forecasts of the International Renewable Energy Agency that solar energy will be the greatest energy source worldwide by 2050.

This Solar Power Project Plan 2030 is considered one of the ambitious steps of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman towards the implementation of the Saudi Vision 2030, which affirmed that it would put a legal and organizational framework that allows the private sector to invest and possess in renewable energy sector, as well as urge partnerships between the private and public sector.

This global project would contribute to increasing electricity generated from solar energy, opening new economic and investment channels in the kingdom in addition to providing job opportunities, training and investment in individuals and firms.

Dr. Turki bin Saud bin Mohammed, Vice President of King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST) for Research Institutes, commended the efforts of the crown prince in signing a memorandum of understanding to establish the Solar Power Project Plan 2030 as a first step to produce around 200 gigawatt in 2030.

The country’s need of energy is now equal to 75 gigawatt, and the project will enable the kingdom to export the surplus, he added, saying that the kingdom enjoys huge spaces that can be invested to construct enormous power plants.



Ukraine Receives First 3 Bln Euro Tranche of G7 Loan from EU

An explosion of a drone after it hit an apartment building is seen in the sky during a Russian drone strike, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Kyiv, Ukraine January 10, 2025. REUTERS/Gleb Garanich
An explosion of a drone after it hit an apartment building is seen in the sky during a Russian drone strike, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Kyiv, Ukraine January 10, 2025. REUTERS/Gleb Garanich
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Ukraine Receives First 3 Bln Euro Tranche of G7 Loan from EU

An explosion of a drone after it hit an apartment building is seen in the sky during a Russian drone strike, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Kyiv, Ukraine January 10, 2025. REUTERS/Gleb Garanich
An explosion of a drone after it hit an apartment building is seen in the sky during a Russian drone strike, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Kyiv, Ukraine January 10, 2025. REUTERS/Gleb Garanich

Ukraine received its first 3 billion euro ($3.09 billion) tranche of the European Union's portion of the Extraordinary Revenue Acceleration (ERA) loan agreed for Ukraine by the G7 group of countries, its prime minister Denys Shmyhal said on Friday.

It was the first tranche of EU loan secured by profits from frozen Russian assets, Shmyhal wrote on the Telegram app.

G7 leaders in October agreed to provide some $50 billion in loans to Ukraine via multiple channels.
"Today, we deliver €3 billion to Ukraine, the 1st payment of the EU part of the G7 loan. Giving Ukraine the financial power to continue fighting for its freedom – and prevail," European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said on social media platform X.

In other economic news, Ukraine's steel output rose by 21.6% in 2024 to 7.58 million metric tons, its producers union said late on Thursday, though fighting that is closing in on the country's only coking coal mine threatens to slash volumes this year.

Steel production has already suffered since Russia's invasion on Feb. 24, 2022, which has led to the destruction of leading steel plants.

Ukraine, formerly a major steel producer and exporter, reported a 70.7% drop in output in 2022 to 6.3 million tons. It fell to 6 million tons in 2023.

The steelmakers' union said in October the potential closure of the Pokrovsk mine, Ukraine's only coking coal mine, could cause steel production to slump to 2-3 million metric tons in 2025.
Advancing Russian forces are less than 2 km (1.24 miles) from the mine, Ukrainian military analyst DeepState said on Friday.
The mine's owner, steelmaker Metinvest BV, said last month it had already halted some operations at the mine and two industry sources said it was operating at 50% capacity.
Producers have said they hope to find coking coal from elsewhere in Ukraine should the mine be seized by Russian troops, but imports would inevitably be needed which would raise costs.