World Bank mulls financing Negev solar project: The planned 250-MW plant will be one of the largest solar power plants in the world

Dec 20, 2007 - McClatchy-Tribune Regional News - Lior Baron Globes, Tel Aviv, Israel

The World Bank is considering financing the proposed solar energy power station planned to be built in the Negev. A World Bank delegation may visit Israel to meet officials from the Ministries of Finance and National Infrastructures to discuss the project. The World Bank has already expressing its willingness to finance the Red-Dead Sea canal, or "Peace canal", subject to a feasibility study.

A joint Ministries of Finance and National Infrastructures delegation attended a World Trade Organization conference on infrastructures last week to interest investors in the Negev solar power plant and other infrastructure project. The delegation departed even before the government has published a tender for the solar power plant. The delegation also presented the Dan Region Sewage Reclamation Project (Shafdan) project, the Krayot bypass road and lateral Road 531.

The Negev solar energy plant attracted the most attention. The government recently approved plans for a BOT tender for the 250-megawatt power station, which will cost $600-700 million. When completed, it will be one of the largest solar power plants in the world.