05 January 2026 at 09:21 pm IST
Bahrain marked a key step in its transition toward cleaner energy with the foundation‑stone ceremony for a 100 megawatt (MW) solar power plant at Al Dur, in the Kingdom’s Southern Governorate. The large‑scale solar plant initiative is led by the Electricity and Water Authority (EWA) and attended by senior government officials, underscoring the nation’s renewed commitment to renewable energy and sustainable infrastructure development. The Al Dur solar power project is expected to use approximately 135,000 photovoltaic panels and be grid‑connected, adding meaningful renewable generation capacity to Bahrain’s national energy mix. Officials noted that the plant will help diversify the country’s power sources by reducing reliance on conventional fossil fuels and strengthening energy security. This milestone aligns with Bahrain’s broader strategic ambition to raise the share of renewable energy to 20 percent by 2035, as outlined in the Government Programme 2023–2026. Government leaders emphasised that deploying large‑scale solar power supports both environmental and economic goals, including emissions reduction, job creation and resilience in energy supply. The plant is scheduled for completion by the third quarter of 2027, and the development is expected to stimulate related industries and attract further investment in Bahrain’s clean energy sector. Moreover, the initiative contributes to the Kingdom’s long‑term goal of achieving carbon neutrality by 2060, a pledge made under its national climate strategy. Officials highlighted that scaling up renewable energy infrastructure such as the Al Dur plant demonstrates Bahrain’s ongoing efforts to balance rapid economic development with sustainable resource management and climate responsibility.
