Project Masam’s demining Team 26 has announced that it has secured 70% of an area allocated for the construction of a photovoltaic power station in Al-Jahbar, Al-Khokha District in Yemen’s western coast Al-Hudaydah Governorate.
Since the war began in 2014, Yemen has experienced somewhat of a energy revolution. Indeed, faced with an electric grid shattered by fighting and the presence of remnants of war (such as landmines and improvised explosive devices (IEDs)), soaring costs and the inability to operate electric plants regularly, over 50% of Yemeni households as well as public and private facilities (schools, hospitals and shops) now rely on solar energy as their main source of power, according to the World Bank.
In a statement, the leader of Team 26, Sami Saeed said that his team responded to the request of the local authority in Al-Khokha district to secure and clear landmines from an area estimated at 300,000 square metres for the purpose of setting up a 10 megawatts solar power plant to serve Al-Khokha and Hays districts.
Saeed explained his team faces several challenges while working in the field, notably the extensive presence of trees and bushes in the area in addition to the pollution of metal waste and other remnants of war – which he claimed slowed down the team’s survey process.
The team leader added that clearing land for and around vital facilities, as well as land earmarked for development projects is one of Project Masam’s priorities, as they serve civilians and contribute to improving their daily lives. Al-Khokha, located on Yemen’s Red Sea coast faces extreme heat and high humidity in summer months.
Revitalising vital facilities in Yemen
The project, which is poised to generate substantial energy through its large-scale grid-connected photovoltaic power system, is one of the most and largest development projects in Al-Khokha district, which was left ravaged by years of fighting and landmines.
Al-Khokha district is one of the ideal areas to set up solar energy plants due to the availability of abundant hours of solar radiation throughout the year.
The Director General of Al-Khokha District, Salim Alyan, stated that the war, witnessed by the district in the recent years, as well as the active planting of landmines and IEDs by Houthi militias in areas they controlled in the district, led the authority to suspect all areas to be mined, or dangerous, and not suitable for the construction of new projects, or the rehabilitation of others, unless cleared by qualified demining teams.
He pointed out that the local authority in Al-Khokha district appreciates the efforts made by Project Masam’s team in securing the location for the solar farm.
The local authority stresses the importance of this project in providing electricity to the district and improving living conditions for civilians, Alyan added.
The team is expected to completely clear the area of mines in the coming days, with construction work starting as soon as Project Masam confirms the area is cleared and safe.
The solar power station in Al Khokha will represent an important achievement that will contribute to enhancing the local authority’s ability to generate clean and renewable electricity, as well as improving the energy infrastructure in Al Khokha district.
