Layla: First Solar Project of its Kind in Saudi Arabia

TAQNIA ENERGY completes work in the first phase of the Layla Solar Power Plant.
TAQNIA ENERGY completes work in the first phase of the Layla Solar Power Plant.
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Layla: First Solar Project of its Kind in Saudi Arabia

TAQNIA ENERGY completes work in the first phase of the Layla Solar Power Plant.
TAQNIA ENERGY completes work in the first phase of the Layla Solar Power Plant.

TAQNIA ENERGY announced the completion of work in the first phase of the Layla Solar Power Plant, extending across 720,000 square meters with a production capacity of 10 megawatts.

It is the first independent energy production station that operates on solar energy and is directly linked to the electric grid. The project can cover 10 percent of the province needs in Al-Aflaj, 300 kilometers south of Riyadh.

Waleed al-Helayel, Head of the Layla Project, expressed delight that the first phase has been finalized.

“The completion of works in such a project is a source of pride to us all, especially that it coincides with Saudi Arabia witnessing a prominent international presence in all fields,” he stated.

Helayel continued that the Kingdom has always been active and clear in its quest to diversify energy sources and support renewable energy through exploiting local resources.

The project will provide Aflaj with its total production capacity, promises to cut down CO2 emitted from traditional sources of energy and therefore increase opportunities to protect the environment.

The Layla project is the result of joint efforts and a deal between TAQNIA ENERGY - a subsidiary of the Saudi Technology Development and Investment Company (Taqnia)- and King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology, and the Saudi Electricity Company.



Lebanon's New Central Bank Chief Vows to Fight Money Laundering

Lebanon's newly appointed central bank governor Karim Souaid speaks during a handover ceremony in Beirut on April 4, 2025. (Photo by ANWAR AMRO / AFP)
Lebanon's newly appointed central bank governor Karim Souaid speaks during a handover ceremony in Beirut on April 4, 2025. (Photo by ANWAR AMRO / AFP)
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Lebanon's New Central Bank Chief Vows to Fight Money Laundering

Lebanon's newly appointed central bank governor Karim Souaid speaks during a handover ceremony in Beirut on April 4, 2025. (Photo by ANWAR AMRO / AFP)
Lebanon's newly appointed central bank governor Karim Souaid speaks during a handover ceremony in Beirut on April 4, 2025. (Photo by ANWAR AMRO / AFP)

Lebanon’s new central bank governor vowed Friday that the institution will fight money laundering and the financing of terrorism and will work independently away from political intervention.
Karim Souaid, who was speaking after officially taking office in Beirut, added that he will work on restructuring the banking sector, public debt and returning money to depositors, The Associated Press reported.
Lebanon’s economy has been witnessing its worst crisis in its modern history since 2019 and the state must implement reforms demanded by the international community. Such reforms are needed to unlock international aid, and on top of that, Israel’s 14-month war with Hezbollah that caused what the World Bank estimates was $11 billion in damages and economic losses.

Since the historic meltdown began Lebanon has been running on a cash economy and in October, the Paris-based Financial Action Task Force, or FATF, an international anti-money laundering watchdog, placed Lebanon on its “grey list.”
“We will work on implementing international laws on top of them combating money laundering and supporting terrorism,” Souaid said.

The former asset manager added that banks in Lebanon should recapitalize by pumping new money and those that cannot and don’t want to can merge with other lenders. He said that the priority will be to return deposits starting with people who have small accounts. He said the return of deposits should be the responsibility of the banks, central bank and the state.

Souaid said the central bank will study all economic recovery plans put forward by previous governments to help the small nation get out of the crisis.

Souaid also pledged to safeguard the central bank's independence from political pressure and prevent conflicts of interest.
"I will ensure that this national institution remains independent in its decision-making, shielded from interference, and grounded in the core principles of transparency and integrity," he said.

Wassim Mansouri, who had been acting central bank governor since July 2023, said the central bank’s reserves stood at 10.727 billion at the end of March.

Souaid succeeds Riad Salameh, the embattled former governor of 30 years whose term ended with several international corruption cases lodged against him and for embezzlement and other financial crimes.