Shaikh Khalid bin Abdullah Al Khalifa, Deputy Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Bahrain, attended the ceremony to lay the foundation stone for the Al Dur Solar Power Plant project. The project is being implemented by the Electricity and Water Authority as part of its key initiatives to support the Kingdom’s energy transition and long-term sustainability goals.
During the ceremony, Shaikh Khalid bin Abdullah said that Bahrain continues to implement high-quality strategic projects across important infrastructure sectors. He noted that these projects play a key role in strengthening the competitiveness of the national economy, ensuring the sustainable use of resources, and improving the efficiency and quality of services provided to citizens and businesses. He added that these efforts are in line with the comprehensive development process led by His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa and the directives of His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister.
The Deputy Prime Minister highlighted that investing in advanced technologies is a central pillar in developing modern infrastructure, especially in sectors related to supply security and service continuity. He pointed out that integrating solar energy solutions into electricity generation helps diversify energy sources, enhance grid resilience, and achieve both environmental and economic benefits. He said this approach is consistent with the Government Programme 2023–2026, which places strong emphasis on expanding the use of renewable energy.
He explained that the Al Dur Solar Power Plant project represents an important addition to Bahrain’s energy sector. In addition to providing new renewable energy generation capacity, the project supports the national plan to gradually increase the share of renewable energy in the energy mix to 20% by 2035, in line with the National Renewable Energy Plan. He said the project contributes to energy security, diversification of energy sources, attracting investment, and creating job opportunities in renewable energy industries.
Shaikh Khalid bin Abdullah also emphasised that establishing the Al Dur plant as one of the Kingdom’s large-scale solar power stations and connecting it directly to the national electricity grid reflects Bahrain’s direction towards centralised generation projects. He noted that such projects are capable of contributing meaningful volumes of clean power to the electricity system, in line with development needs and future energy demand.
He praised the role of private sector institutions in supporting government efforts through the implementation of distributed solar energy projects. He said this integration between public and private sectors helps accelerate the achievement of national renewable energy targets and highlights the importance of strong partnerships among all stakeholders involved in developing the renewable energy sector.
The Deputy Prime Minister expressed his appreciation to Kamal bin Ahmed Mohammed, President of the Electricity and Water Authority, as well as to all EWA employees and relevant entities involved in the project. He stressed the importance of continued coordination among government bodies to ensure that strategic projects are completed according to approved plans and with high efficiency.
In his remarks, the President of the Electricity and Water Authority expressed deep gratitude to His Majesty the King and to His Royal Highness the Crown Prince and Prime Minister for their continued support, which has enabled the Authority to implement its strategic projects efficiently and enhance the reliability and sustainability of its services. He thanked the Deputy Prime Minister for laying the foundation stone and for his ongoing support and follow-up through the Ministerial Committee for Development and Infrastructure Projects.
He stated that the Al Dur Solar Power Plant is expected to have a production capacity of around 100 megawatts upon completion by the third quarter of next year. The project will use approximately 135,000 solar panels. He added that the plant is part of a wider set of initiatives by the Authority to reduce dependence on conventional fuels, lower emissions, and support Bahrain’s commitment to achieving carbon neutrality by 2060.
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