The core activity of the Sahara Forest Project is to enable the realization of facilities utilizing the Sahara Forest Project concept and technologies.
The Sahara Forest Project facilities utilize a saltwater infrastructure through three core technological components: salt water-cooled greenhouses, solar power installations, and practices and technologies for revegetation of desert areas. When establishing a new SFP facility the relative scale of these components can be adjusted according to customer needs and local conditions. Additionally, several technological extensions can be incorporated into the synergistic setup to take advantage of additional business opportunities. Further, Sahara Forest Project facilities can be realized as add-on technologies offering opportunities for additional value creation to existing or planned technological installations such as PV or CSP parks, desalination facilities, or wastewater treatment plants.
The facility in Jordan was opened by HM King Abdullah II in 2017, and the following 3 year trial period shows that the concept is scalable in Jordan. The project is ready for commercial scale-up for production both for the export of vegetables to Europe and for the domestic vegetable market in Jordan to replace imported vegetables. This will create more than 150 jobs locally in Aqaba, and many more in connected agricultural services.
To achieve this goal of large-scale roll in 2021 and 2022, the Jordanian government and the Sahara Forest Project must work together to realize the saltwater pipeline to the new land in Aqaba assigned to Sahara Forest Project by Aqaba Special Economic Zone Authority (ASEZA). The land area for large-scale deployment is located 4,5 km from the Red Sea coast, just south of the Aqaba airport. An agreement with Aqaba Development Cooperation (ADC) was signed in March 2020 during the Norwegian State visit to finance and build the saltwater pipeline to the Sahara Forest Project location. We appreciate the involvement of the Ministry of Water and Irrigation to support ADC in this work, particularly to secure the finance of the pipeline. ADC has committed to finance and build the pipeline up to a cost of 1,2 mill JOD. SFP commits to buying the salt water needed for the production of the vegetables.
Additionally, Al Hussein University and Sahara Forest Project joint training program for female engineers in Jordan is a Crown Prince Foundation Initiative to enhance the participation of female engineers in the labor force in Jordan.
