Saudi Arabia Starts Operating First Wind Turbine In Al-Jouf Region

FILE PHOTO: A power-generating windmill turbine is seen at the Eneco Luchterduinen offshore wind farm near Amsterdam, Netherlands September 26, 2017. REUTERS/Yves Herman/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: A power-generating windmill turbine is seen at the Eneco Luchterduinen offshore wind farm near Amsterdam, Netherlands September 26, 2017. REUTERS/Yves Herman/File Photo
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Saudi Arabia Starts Operating First Wind Turbine In Al-Jouf Region

FILE PHOTO: A power-generating windmill turbine is seen at the Eneco Luchterduinen offshore wind farm near Amsterdam, Netherlands September 26, 2017. REUTERS/Yves Herman/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: A power-generating windmill turbine is seen at the Eneco Luchterduinen offshore wind farm near Amsterdam, Netherlands September 26, 2017. REUTERS/Yves Herman/File Photo

Saudi Arabia announced on Wednesday the operation of the first wind turbine to produce electricity in the Kingdom, marking a new era of serious transformation towards alternative and clean renewable energy.

The Saudi Ministry of Energy announced the start of the trial operation of the first turbine in the Dumat Al-Jandal project in Al-Jouf region (northern Saudi Arabia) to exploit wind energy in electricity production.

In a statement, the Saudi Ministry of Energy said that the step comes within the implementation of one of the goals of Vision 2030, represented by the production of 50 percent of the Kingdom’s electricity from renewable sources by 2030.

The Dumat Al-Jandal project in Al-Jouf region is a practical step to exploit wind energy in the production of electricity, and it is the first project in the Kingdom and the largest project of its kind in the Middle East.

The Ministry of Energy had earlier announced awarding the energy project to the alliance led by the French Electricity Company, EDF Energies Nouvelles, and the Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company (Masdar).

Saudi Arabia continues its endeavors towards the global race to adopt and develop work systems with renewable and alternative energy, at a time when it is leading giant projects that are environmentally friendly and enhance sustainability, such as the city of The Line in NEOM, and the Amaala and Red Sea tourism projects - the pillars of the Kingdom’s Vision 2030.



China Seeks to Bolster Ports and Aviation Hubs in Western Regions

The city skyline is reflected in a pool left on the dry riverbed of the receding Jialing river, a tributary of the Yangtze, that is approaching record-low water levels during a regional drought in Chongqing, China, August 20, 2022.  (Reuters)
The city skyline is reflected in a pool left on the dry riverbed of the receding Jialing river, a tributary of the Yangtze, that is approaching record-low water levels during a regional drought in Chongqing, China, August 20, 2022. (Reuters)
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China Seeks to Bolster Ports and Aviation Hubs in Western Regions

The city skyline is reflected in a pool left on the dry riverbed of the receding Jialing river, a tributary of the Yangtze, that is approaching record-low water levels during a regional drought in Chongqing, China, August 20, 2022.  (Reuters)
The city skyline is reflected in a pool left on the dry riverbed of the receding Jialing river, a tributary of the Yangtze, that is approaching record-low water levels during a regional drought in Chongqing, China, August 20, 2022. (Reuters)

China said on Sunday it would launch 15 measures to bolster the development of its western provinces with the construction of logistical infrastructure such as ports and aviation hubs.

The General Administration of Customs said the measures would enhance the integration of rail, air, river and sea links in China's west, state media reported.

The measures are to include enhancing international aviation hubs in cities including Chengdu, Chongqing, Kunming, Xi'an and Urumqi, while developing comprehensive bonded zones, and integrating these with ports and other transport links.

A number of ports would also be built and expanded.

China has long sought to bolster the economic heft of its western regions, which have markedly lagged coastal provinces.

China's western regions comprise around two-thirds of the country's land area and include regions such as Sichuan, Chongqing, Yunnan, Xinjiang and Tibet.

China's Politburo last year called for a "new urbanization" of western China to revitalize rural areas, expand poverty alleviation efforts and strengthen energy resources. Efforts have also been made to increase linkages to Europe and South Asia through trade corridors including rail freight routes.