Jordan District Energy (JDE) has recently signed a JOD 30 million agreement with ARANER, LLC, a leading American company specialized in heating and cooling systems in the Middle East to design, manufacture, construct and operate a central heating and cooling plant for Abdali development project, the new downtown of Amman,in collaboration with Arab Towers Contracting Company (ATTCO).
The agreement was signed by Engineer George Amireh, Acting General Manager of JDE, and Engineer Carlos de Ceballos, General Director of ARANER, LLC. According to the agreement, ARANER is responsible for the design, manufacturing, construction and operation of the plant, the first of its kind in the region. The premiere facility will be built to the highest international standards within 16 months, ultimately materializing into a success story in energy conservation in the region, and environment and water resources protection in the Kingdom.
On his part, Engineer George Amireh said: "ARANER is one of the renowned international companies in the energy and central heating and cooling sectors. The signing of this contract marks a new milestone for Abdali, the new downtown of Amman, and is a demonstration of its pioneering nature." He further explained, "JDE has executed the plant’s infrastructure during the first phase of the works, with costs amounting to JOD 15 million. We have installed 5-km-long heating and cooling pipes to deliver the plant’s generated energy to all the developers of the first phase of Abdali." JDE has cooperated with several international and local experts to conduct scientific studies assessing the plant’s impacts, the first of which was with the Royal Scientific Society’s National Energy Research Center, which showed that the plant significantly cuts the energy bill by 40% and decreases water consumption by 95%, compared to other plants and designs of the same nature.
Another study, conducted by a local institution accredited by the Ministry of Environment in Jordan, asserted that using the new central heating and cooling system considerably reduces the negative impact on the environment, compared to installing individual systems for each developer. It was demonstrated that the central plant contributes to the reduction of CO2 emissions by 13,700 tons annually, compared to other plants of its like.
Additionally, JDE has conducted a study with "Vanderweil Engineers," one of the major specialized international consultancy companies, to review and evaluate ARANER’s designs, and ensure they comply with the latest international state-of-the-art plans.
The study has shown ARANER’s ability to efficiently design the project within the specified timeframe.
Engineer Carlos De Ceballos expressed his pleasure for ARANER being chosen to work with JDE and said: "We are happy to be part of this iconic project on a regional level to build a plant, the first of its kind which combines central heating and cooling in one plant. The system is designed to use a Central Thermal Energy Storage Tank to store chilled water during off-peak hours to utilize it in times when consumption is highest." He added, "We will work diligently to finish the work with the highest quality standards and within the specified timeframe, as evident by ARANER’s track record in the Middle East." Similarly, Hisham Wadi, General Director of ATCCO said: "Our partnership with ARANER to build this project is the fruit of a successful partnership between international and national companies and will greatly contribute to supporting the national economy and maximizing its achievements." It is worth noting that, with the completion of the plant, JDE will be able to provide central heating and cooling to the facilities of the first phase of Abdali, with a capacity reaching 31,500 Tons of Refrigeration for cooling and 53,000 kW for heating.
The overall energy consumption upon the completion of phase one and two of the project will reach 50,000 Tons of Refrigeration for cooling and 101,000 kW for heating.