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.



Riyadh Air Willing to Buy Boeing Planes from Cancelled Chinese Orders

Riyadh Air aircraft. (SPA)
Riyadh Air aircraft. (SPA)
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Riyadh Air Willing to Buy Boeing Planes from Cancelled Chinese Orders

Riyadh Air aircraft. (SPA)
Riyadh Air aircraft. (SPA)

Riyadh Air CEO Tony Douglas on Monday said that the Saudi startup carrier would be ready to buy Boeing aircraft destined for Chinese airlines if they are not delivered due to the escalating trade war between the United States and China.

Boeing is looking to resell potentially dozens of planes locked out of China by tariffs after repatriating a third jet to the United States in a delivery standoff that drew new criticism of Beijing from US President Donald Trump.

"What we've done... is made it quite clear to Boeing, should that ever happen, and the keyword there is should, we'll happily take them all," Douglas said in an interview with Reuters on the sidelines of the Arabian Travel Market conference.

Boeing took the rare step of publicly flagging the potential aircraft sale during an analyst call last week, saying that there would be no shortage of buyers in a tight jet market.