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Belgium's De Werkvennootschap and the Besix-led BRAVO4 consortium have reached financial close on the R4 motorway West and East in Ghent. The €1 billion DBFM project will be developed by a consortium consisting of Besix and Stadsbaderabrdn in a joint venture with Rebel Group. The financing for the project was arranged through a debt funding competition involving Belgian and international banks and insurers. The R4 motorway project aims to improve connectivity and traffic flow by reducing the number of nodes, removing intersections with traffic lights, adding new nodes, and replacing cycle paths with a cycle road network. The project faced challenges during its development, including a threat to invoke the flex clause by the project's backers. The advisers to the procuring authority and the sponsor include Deloitte, Eubelius, Arcadis, SBE, Rebel Group, A&O Shearman, Linklaters, BDO, EY, and Infrata. The losing bidders for the project were Macquarie, Denys, BAM, Jan de Nul, and Willemen. [Extracted from the article]

The Water Services Regulation Authority (Ofwat) in the UK is nearing the bidding deadline for its £1.75 billion Haweswater Aqueduct Resilience Programme (HARP). The project involves replacing and upgrading sections of the Haweswater Pipeline, which runs from Cumbria to Greater Manchester. Ofwat will partner with a private company for the first time to develop the program, setting a precedent for future projects. United Utilities, on behalf of Ofwat, will select a competitively appointed provider (CAP) to deliver the scheme. The CAP will be responsible for the 25-year contract, excluding the 6-year construction phase. The estimated cost of the project was initially £1 billion but was adjusted upwards by bidders in the first round of procurement. A CAP is expected to be announced in Q3 2024. United Utilities has also published a £50 million tender for a technical adviser. [Extracted from the article]

Microsoft has purchased a 48-acre land parcel in Leeds, Yorkshire for £106.6 million from Harworth Group. The deal includes two plots of land, with the first plot of 27 acres costing £52.9 million and the second plot of 21 acres costing £53.2 million. Microsoft plans to develop a hyperscale data center on the Skelton Grange site, although no further details have been announced. This is Microsoft's second land purchase in Yorkshire, following their acquisition of a land parcel in Eggborough in February 2024 for a data center campus and gas-fired power plant. [Extracted from the article]

The Saudi Power Procurement Company (SPPC) has signed power purchase agreements (PPAs) for the development of three solar plants in Saudi Arabia. The plants, located in the Makkah and Qassim provinces, will have a combined capacity of 5.5GW and a levelized cost of electricity (LCOE) ranging from 1.58762 to 1.67289 cent/kWh. The project involves companies such as ACWA Power, Badeel (a subsidiary of the Public Investment Fund), and Saudi Aramco. Three special purpose vehicles (SPVs) will be established to operate the plants, with commercial operations expected to begin in the first half of 2027. These agreements are part of Saudi Arabia's renewable energy program, which aims to procure 20GW of renewable energy annually and achieve a total capacity of 100-130GW by 2030. [Extracted from the article]

Be.EV, a Manchester-based company, has secured a £55 million ($70m) loan from KfW IPEX-Bank and NatWest to expand its electric vehicle (EV) infrastructure in the UK. The funding will allow Be.EV to increase its charging stations from 600 to over 1,000 rapid and ultra-rapid charge points by the end of 2024. The majority of the new chargers will be ultra-rapid, addressing the limited number of charging locations in the UK. Be.EV's CEO, Asif Ghafoor, sees this investment as a vote of confidence in their mission to provide reliable charging options for communities that have been left behind in the transition to EVs. The loan, along with previous investments from Octopus Energy, will support the government's goal of zero-emission vehicles by 2035. [Extracted from the article]

The African Development Bank (AfDB) has secured an $18 million investment package from the Global Environment Facility (GEF) for two environmental projects. The first project aims to improve the management of water, energy, food, and environmental resources within the Zambezi River Basin, benefiting eight southern African countries. The second project focuses on addressing the growing issue of electronic waste in Djibouti, Ethiopia, and Somalia. The funding will be used to prevent the creation of e-waste and increase the circulation of e-products in the region. The AfDB is committed to promoting environmental sustainability and resilience across the African continent. [Extracted from the article]

Nine bidders have qualified for the Request for Proposal (RFP) stage of Oman's Ibri III solar Public-Private Partnership (PPP) project. The bidders include Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company (Masdar), ACWA Power, Al Riyadh National Trading and Korea Midland Power (KOMIPO), EDF Renouvelables and Korean Western Power (KOWEPO), International Power S.A. (Engie), Jinko Power, Sembcorp Utilities, Sumitomo Corporation, and TotalEnergies Renewables. The project aims to provide clean and efficient power generation in the region and will have a capacity of 500MW upon its scheduled commercial operation in Q4 2026. This project is part of Oman's commitment to net-zero goals and is the fourth solar PPP undertaken by NAMA in recent years. [Extracted from the article]

Saudi Aramco Total Refining and Petrochemical Company (SATORP) has signed a 20-year agreement with Methanol Chemicals Company (Chemanol) for the supply of methanol. Chemanol will provide 100,000 metric tonnes per year to SATORP's Amiral petrochemical plant in Jubail, starting in Q4 2027. The financial impact of the deal is uncertain due to market conditions and product prices. SATORP recently secured a $1 billion debt package from Korea's Eximbank and is developing a complex that will convert refinery off-gasses and naphtha into higher value chemicals, the first of its kind in the region. [Extracted from the article]

Chariot, an Africa-focused transitional energy group, has signed an agreement with Morocco's Vivo Energy for the future offtake of natural gas. The gas will be supplied from the Moroccan Loukos onshore facility, which is owned by Chariot and the National Office of Hydrocarbons and Mines (ONHYM) and operated solely by Chariot. The deal includes Chariot selling 3 million standard cubic feet per day (mmscfd) to Vivo Energy, Vivo Energy developing a compressed natural gas (CNG) plant and virtual distribution network, and Chariot having the option to take a stake in the midstream's special purpose vehicle (SPV). This agreement aims to commercialize future gas production, support Vivo Energy's development of CNG infrastructure, and potentially provide Chariot with exposure to gas distribution income. [Extracted from the article]

DIF Capital Partners and its subsidiary ielo have completed a €208 million ($223m) debt refinancing deal with a group of lenders. The deal includes an uncommitted accordion facility to support future financing needs. DIF plans to use the capital to expand ielo's wholesale nationwide fibre network. Since acquiring a stake in the company in July 2020, ielo has significantly increased its network from 2,000km to over 27,000km. [Extracted from the article]

Israeli environmental infrastructure developer BlueGen has achieved financial close on a public-private partnership (PPP) for the construction of a groundwater remediation plant in the Ramat HaSharon industrial area of Israel. BlueGen will operate the plant for 25 years, treating approximately 5.5 million cubic meters of water annually and directing the treated water into the Yarkon river. This project aims to address groundwater contamination, which has led to the closure of wells in several areas and poses a threat to wells throughout the country. The successful remediation of the groundwater will enable the construction of new housing developments and provide space for business and industry development. [Extracted from the article]

Limerick City and County Council (LCCC) has issued a tender for a £193 million ($207m) public-private partnership (PPP) project to construct the Foynes-Limerick motorway in Ireland. The project includes the construction of the Adare Bypass, as well as the realignment of national and local roads, the construction of bridges, and the upgrade of railway bridges. The Croagh to Adare section of the project is expected to be completed by June 2027, ahead of the 2027 Ryder Cup. This project is part of Ireland's larger plan to rehabilitate its national motorway network. Interested parties have until September 6, 2024, to respond to the tender. [Extracted from the article]

Oman's Electricity Transmission Company (OETC) has announced plans for a direct interconnection link between the electricity grids of Oman and the GCC Interconnection Authority (GCCIA). The project is currently in the design phase and is expected to be completed by the fourth quarter of 2026. The interconnection will connect the 400kV grid station in Oman's Ibri IPP to the UAE's 400kV grid station in Silaa, Abu Dhabi. This connection will improve Oman's energy efficiency, reduce power costs, and decrease reliance on diesel generators. Additionally, the proposal includes connecting the rural Musandam grid to the UAE's transmission interconnection system, which will enhance grid stability and stabilize power supply. The project will involve the installation of a 132kV double overhead line and an underground cable between the UAE's Fila grid station and the OETC's Dibba grid station. The new link is expected to increase the system reliability and resiliency by increasing the total transfer capability up to 1600MW between Oman and GCCIA networks. [Extracted from the article]

Israel has received six bids for a renovation and expansion public-private partnership (PPP) project for the Ashkelon desalination plant. The plant, which is Israel's first PPP concession, is reaching the end of its 25-year operational period. The new deal will expand the plant's capacity from 120 million cubic meters per year to 220 million cubic meters per year, bringing Israel's total water desalination capacity close to a billion cubic meters per year. These projects are seen as a significant step in addressing the climate crisis and preparing for a decrease in natural water sources. [Extracted from the article]

euNetworks, a pan-European fiber firm, has completed a refinancing of its existing debt and raised additional committed debt. The company raised €1.26 billion ($1.4 billion) from the deal, which will be used to fund its upcoming fiber upgrade and expansion. The fundraising was led by existing investors Stonepeak and Investment Management Corporation of Ontario (IMCO) and attracted interest from infrastructure-focused financial institutions. The debt financing will support euNetworks' growth and investment in its network infrastructure. The company was advised by RBC Capital Markets and A&O Sherman, and the lending consortium was advised by Latham & Watkins. [Extracted from the article]

Rohit Pandey has been promoted to the role of managing director at Synergy Consulting, replacing Cesar Khatounian. Pandey will continue to lead Synergy's MENA water and energy business and will focus on expanding the company's presence in the region. This is Pandey's fourth promotion in recent years, with his most recent promotion being to director in November 2020. Before joining Synergy, Pandey worked as a senior engineer at GeometricPLM for four years. Some of his recent projects include the Rayis-Rabigh independent water transmission project (IWTP) and KSA's 7.2GW gas-fired thermal power plants program. [Extracted from the article]

The Utility Regulator NI (UR) is seeking advisory teams for a long-term PPP delivery program that encompasses all of the company's activities. The tender is divided into 13 lots, including actuarial advisory, competition and market behavior, consumer protection, and more. The advisers will support UR's regulatory responsibilities in the electricity, gas, and water industries in Northern Ireland, as well as its relationships with markets in the UK and Europe. The initial advisory contracts will last for 2 years, with the option to extend for an additional 2 years. Interested parties have until July 22, 2024, to respond to UR's call. [Extracted from the article]

Zouk Capital, an investment firm, is increasing its investment in the UK EV charging network char.gy to £100 million ($127m) in order to support the network's expansion plans. The investment will come from Zouk's Charging Infrastructure Investment Fund (CIIF) and will help char.gy grow its current network of 3,000 charging points to 100,000 by 2030. The goal of this expansion is to provide public EV charging access to the 40% of UK citizens who do not have off-street parking. Zouk Capital's increased commitment to char.gy reflects the growing demand for EV infrastructure and supports the UK's Net Zero 2050 goals. [Extracted from the article]

The Water Authority of Jordan (WAJ) has secured a financing deal with international lenders to improve the country's wastewater infrastructure. The €27.1 million ($30m) facility includes funding from the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), the UK government, and the EU's Neighbourhood Investment platform. The financing will be used to construct a new wastewater treatment plant in West Irbid, which will have the capacity to treat 12,000 cubic meters of wastewater per day and serve surrounding towns and refugee areas. The EBRD will also provide technical support for the project. [Extracted from the article]

Abraj Energy Services, an Omani energy company, has secured a 40 million riyal ($106m) credit financing deal with Alizz Islamic Bank to develop three oil rigs in Kuwait. The funds will be used to build the rigs and for non-funded working capital facilities. This deal is part of Abraj's 5-year partnership with Kuwait Gulf Oil Company and Saudi Arabian Chevron to extract and drill for oil in Kuwait. The company will be moving towards Islamic financing instead of traditional debt financing. [Extracted from the article]

The City of Braunschweig in Germany has initiated a public-private partnership (PPP) tender for advisory services for the construction of two sports centers. Each facility is estimated to cost €12 million ($13 million) and will have the same size and structure, resulting in a more cost-effective program. The municipality is seeking legal, financial, and technical services for a 10-year design, build, finance, and maintain (DBFM) contract. The preparation of tender documents is expected to take four months, with the entire procurement process lasting 15 months. Interested parties have until June 20, 2024, to respond to the tender. [Extracted from the article]

The Zakat, Tax and Customs Authority (ZATCA) in Saudi Arabia has issued a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) for a hybrid power plant at the Empty Quarter land port. The 25-year Design, Build, Finance, Operate, and Maintain (DBFOM) project, in collaboration with the National Center for Privatization and Public-Private Partnerships (NCP), aims to reduce the use of diesel fuel and transition to renewable energy for the land port. This initiative is part of ZATCA's efforts to improve infrastructure and living standards in line with Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030. Interested parties have until July 21, 2024, to respond to the RFQ. [Extracted from the article]

The Zakat, Tax, and Customs Authority (ZATCA) and the Saudi National Center for Privatization & PPP (NCP) are seeking expressions of interest for two separate projects at ZATCA's land ports in Saudi Arabia. The first project involves a 10-year contract to improve water quality and sewage treatment processes for government workers at the ports. The second project is a 20-year concession to enhance residential facilities at nine land ports. ZATCA aims to improve living standards in line with Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 infrastructure goals. Interested parties have until June 30, 2024, to respond to ZATCA. [Extracted from the article]

Wood, an engineering company, has completed the front-end engineering design (FEED) phase of Saudi Aramco's Accelerated Carbon Capture and Sequestration (ACCS) project in Saudi Arabia. The project aims to capture carbon emissions from Aramco's Jubail gas plant and third-party producers and transport and store them in onshore geological storage. Aramco plans to store up to 14 million metric tons per annum (MTPA) of CO2 equivalent by 2035, contributing to Saudi Arabia's goal of 44 MTPA by 2035. The project is seen as a significant step towards reducing carbon emissions in heavy industries and supporting the goals of the Paris Agreement. [Extracted from the article]

The Nordic Investment Bank (NIB) has provided a €13.2 million ($14.2m) loan to Nordic transport operator Nobina for the expansion of their e-bus fleet in Finland. The loan will be used to deploy 60 electric buses in three major regions of Finland, which is expected to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 8,300 tonnes per year and nitrogen oxide emissions by 42 tonnes per year. Nobina is the largest privately owned bus operator in the Nordics, with a fleet of around 4,000 buses and serving 1 million passengers daily. This is NIB's second e-bus fleet financing with Nobina, following a previous investment of €18.4 million in 2023. [Extracted from the article]

Antin Infrastructure Partners has launched Proxima, a high-speed rail operator in France. Proxima, founded by Rachel Picard and Tim Jackson, is fully backed by Antin and will receive a €1 billion investment package. The HSR operator will connect Paris with four major cities in Western France: Angers, Bordeaux, Nantes, and Rennes. Proxima will lease a maintenance and stabling depot located in Marcheprime, south of Bordeaux, from Lisea. This new independent rail operator challenges the monopoly of Société Nationale des Chemins de fer Français (SNCF), the state-owned rail operator in France. France has recently liberalized its rail market, allowing competition from private operators. [Extracted from the article]

Equinix has announced plans to develop a new data center in Portugal with a €50 million investment. The LS2 facility is expected to open in the first quarter of 2025 and will be located near Equinix's existing LS1 data center. This expansion is part of Equinix's strategy to position Portugal as a major subsea cable landing hub, with 11 subsea cables currently landing in the Lisbon area. The company stated that all subsea cables in the region end up in Equinix data centers in the Portuguese capital. [Extracted from the article]

Vantage Data Centres has completed a £600 million ($767m) asset-backed securitisation (ABS), marking the first securitisation against a data centre in EMEA. The deal, led by Barclays and SMBC Nikko Capital Markets, includes an additional £100 million in unfunded variable funding notes. The securitisation is backed by two facilities on Vantage's Cardiff campus, one of Europe's largest hyperscale data centre campuses. Vantage has raised over $1.7 billion in debt in the past year to expand its EMEA platform, with a focus on European expansion. [Extracted from the article]

United Fiber is expanding its fiber network in Southeastern Europe by consolidating its assets in Bulgaria, Croatia, Greece, and Slovenia under the United Group label. With over 60,000km of fiber network and plans to roll out 475,000 FTTH connections by the end of 2024, United Fiber aims to be the preferred partner for individual customers, businesses, and the public sector in digitizing societies. This move is part of United's larger plan to improve connectivity between Europe and the Middle East, including the construction of a terrestrial cable connecting Athens and Thessaloniki. [Extracted from the article]

QatarEnergy has signed two supply deals for LNG and naphtha with Taiwan and Japan. The company has entered into a 27-year LNG supply agreement with CPC Corporation in Taiwan, where QatarEnergy will supply 4 million tons per annum of LNG. Additionally, QatarEnergy will supply up to 6 million tonnes of naphtha to Idemitsu Kosan in Japan over a 10-year period. These agreements aim to strengthen the cooperative relationships between QatarEnergy and its counterparts in Taiwan and Japan. The NFE project, part of Qatar's North Field LNG expansion program, will increase Qatar's LNG production capacity from 77 MTPA to 142 MTPA by 2030. [Extracted from the article]

Kazakhstan's KAZ Minerals Smelting and China Nonferrous Metal Mining (NFC) are partnering to build a $1.5 billion copper smelter in Abay, Kazakhstan. The smelter is expected to have an annual copper production capacity of 300,000 tonnes by its commissioning deadline in 2028. Raw materials for the smelter will be sourced from nearby mining and processing plants operated by Vostoktsvetmet. The project is seen as a major industrial endeavor that will contribute to Kazakhstan's economy and meet domestic market demand for copper processing. In addition to copper, the plant will also produce gold, silver, and sulphuric acid. [Extracted from the article]

Iberdrola and BP Pulse have announced plans to expand their EV charging network in Spain by adding 50 ultrafast charging points. These charging points will range from 120kW to 360kW to cater to different user needs. The expansion includes the installation of 4 charging points for light and heavy vehicles in Zaragoza, strategically located near the airport and A2 motorway. The companies aim to create the largest ultra-fast charging network in Iberia and prioritize improving the customer experience when traveling by electric vehicle. This initiative builds on their previous announcement of a megahub in Fuentes de Oñoro, Salamanca, which will feature 20 ultra-fast charging points for passenger cars and trucks. [Extracted from the article]

Microsoft has announced plans to invest SEK 33.7 billion ($3.2 billion) in expanding its data center capacity in Sweden over the next two years. This investment, the largest of its kind in Sweden's history, will focus on boosting Microsoft's cloud and AI infrastructure and increasing the AI competence of 250,000 people to benefit the country's economy. The company will also deploy over 20,000 graphics processing units (GPUs) to expand its existing data centers. In addition, Microsoft aims to balance its infrastructure developments with investments in renewable energy projects, having already invested in nearly 1,000MW of renewable energy production in Sweden. [Extracted from the article]

Hassana Investment Company has acquired a 30% stake in Rabigh Arabian Water & Electricity Company (RAWEC), an independent water, steam, and power plant in Saudi Arabia. The investment company purchased the stake from ACWA Power for SAR 844 million ($255m), establishing a long-term relationship between the two firms. The plant, owned and operated by a joint venture including ACWA Power, Hassana Investment Company, JGC Corporation, and Petro Rabigh, has a total installed capacity of 840MW of power generation, 6,110 tonnes per hour of steam, and 12,000 tonnes per hour of water. [Extracted from the article]

The Czech Directorate of Roads and Highways has announced the advisory teams for the D35 motorway PPP project. The advisory teams include PwC for financial advice, White & Case for legal advice, Mott Macdonald for technical advice, and IEBERT + TALAŠ for architectural advice. The contracts for these advisory teams amount to CZK 25 million ($1.1m). The D35 PPP project is part of a larger redevelopment project worth €1.5 billion ($1.6bn) and will be completed in two sections. This announcement is separate from Budimex's recent award for the design and construction of a section of the D35 motorway. [Extracted from the article]

Israeli renewables firm Doral has secured the largest-ever project financing in the country's renewables sector. A consortium of lenders, led by Mizrahi-Tefahot Bank, provided a debt package of NIS 2.3 billion ($617.8m). The funding will be used by Doral to develop a pipeline of over a dozen renewable energy projects with a total capacity of 340MWp and 1,530MWh of storage capacity. Doral expects to generate NIS 265 million in annual revenue from these developments. The CEO of Doral, Yaki Noyman, expressed that this financing deal is exceptional and will enable the company to connect numerous solar and storage projects across Israel in the coming year. [Extracted from the article]

GS Inima has awarded Douglas OHI a civil works contract for the Shuweihat 4 reverse osmosis seawater desalination plant in the UAE. The plant will use low carbon reverse osmosis technology to desalinate seawater and provide up to 70 million imperial gallons per day of drinking water in Abu Dhabi's Al Dhafra region. The project has reached financial close with a debt/equity ratio of 71:29 and a total deal value of $625.4 million. The plant's ownership is divided between TAQA (60%) and GS Inima (40%), and both companies will handle the operation and maintenance of the plant. [Extracted from the article]

Saudi EPC firm AlSharif Group (ASG) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Gabonese government and hydrogen development firm Hydroma for the development of green and white hydrogen in Gabon. The $5.5 billion project will be implemented in two phases. Phase 1 involves the construction of a hydronic power plant with a 200MW capacity, enabling the production of 200,000 tonnes/year of green hydrogen. Phase 2 aims to increase hydrogen production to 1.6 million tonnes/year. This is ASG's second project in Gabon, following a previous MoU in March 2021 for the development of infrastructure in the country's energy sector. ASG is a major energy distribution company in Saudi Arabia with a history of developing energy projects since 1980. [Extracted from the article]

Aviva Investors has provided a £65 million debt facility to Zenobē, a UK BESS and EV business, to expand its e-fleet offering. The loan will support Zenobē in funding contracts for the leasing of e-buses to UK bus operators and associated charging infrastructure. Zenobē aims to have 4,000 electric buses, trucks, and commercial vehicles on the road by 2026. This financing transaction is Aviva's third in the EV sector in recent years. [Extracted from the article]

The Saudi Water Partnership Company (SWPC) has opened up pre-qualification submissions for the development of its water production and sewage treatment plant pipeline. The projects involved in the tender include Ras Al Khair 2, Ras Al Khair 3, Tabuk 1, Shuqaiq 4, Jazan 1, Riyadh East, Hadda, Arana, Abu Arish, South Najran, Hafar Al-Batin, and Al Kharj. Interested parties have until July 4, 2024, to submit expressions of interest to SWPC. [Extracted from the article]

The Juranah independent strategic water reservoir (ISWR) in Makkah, Saudi Arabia, has reached financial close. The project was awarded to a consortium led by Vision International Investment Company (VIIC) and includes Gulf Investment Corporation G.S.C and TAQA. The consortium won the project with a levelised water storage charge of 0.18111 Riyals ($0.04825) per cubic meter of water per day. The facility will enhance the water supply chain in Makkah and serve residents, visitors, and pilgrims. The project was launched in July 2021 and the preferred bidder is advised by Deloitte, Bracewell, and Norton Rose Fulbright. [Extracted from the article]

Leeds City Council has approved the construction of a purpose-built student accommodation (PBSA) facility in the city center. The facility, operated by Luna Student, will consist of 198 studio apartments across a part-8, part-10-storey building, along with communal areas and a roof terrace. The development aims to address the shortage of university accommodation in the UK and potentially free up family housing currently occupied by students. The project was advised by various firms in financial, planning, architectural, landscaping, engineering, and fire engineering aspects. [Extracted from the article]

Bahrain's Al Dur Power & Water Company has successfully completed a $1.2 billion refinancing deal with a group of 17 lenders. The funds will be used for the Al Dur independent water & power plant (IWPP), which is one of Bahrain's leading power and water utilities. The refinancing consists of two tranches, with $643 million being a conventional facility and $557 million being an Islamic facility. The plant has a power capacity of 1,234MW and a water capacity of 48 MIGD per day, with a 25-year offtake agreement with the Electricity and Water Authority (EWA). ACWA Power also recently refinanced $580 million of its existing debt for the Al Dur II IWPP. [Extracted from the article]

Solaria, a Spanish company, has launched its data center business, Solaria Data Center, with a portfolio of 155MW data centers. The company has obtained permission from Spanish grid operator Red Eléctrica to access and connect to the power supply. Solaria plans to utilize its existing infrastructure for fiber and power generation to operate the data centers, taking advantage of the low-cost energy available in the Iberian market. No specific locations or development schedules have been announced yet. In 2023, Solaria secured a €1.7 billion debt package with the European Investment Bank to build 120 photovoltaic plants with a total capacity of approximately 5.6GW in Spain, Italy, and Portugal. [Extracted from the article]

Khazna Data Centres, in collaboration with the Abu Dhabi Investment Office (ADIO), will construct a 30MW data centre in the Mafraq Industrial Area of Abu Dhabi. The project is expected to be operational by mid-2026. Khazna has secured a long-term lease agreement with ADIO for the development site. This will be Khazna's seventh data centre in Abu Dhabi, with their most recent facility, AUH6, being unveiled in Q1 2024. The partnership with ADIO reflects Khazna's dedication to advancing Abu Dhabi and the UAE's digital and AI aspirations. Khazna currently operates 10 data centres across the UAE, expanding its services following its merger with G42 Group and Etisalat Group in 2021. [Extracted from the article]

Saudi Arabia is planning to launch a second offering of shares in its oil company, Aramco, in June 2024. The stake sale is expected to raise around $12 billion and is part of the country's efforts to diversify its economy. The pricing of the shares will determine the final revenue, which is estimated to be between $10 billion and $13.1 billion. The IPO includes an option to sell additional shares to stabilize the offer price. The funds raised are likely to benefit the Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia. [Extracted from the article]

French EV company Electra plans to invest €125 million ($135 million) in expanding its EV charging network in Belgium. The investment includes a €75 million green debt package and a €50 million equity package from Electra. This funding will support the company's expansion in Belgium, where it currently operates 40 EV charging stations. Electra already has a portfolio of over 250 operational stations and more than 1,000 stations under development. The company aims to install 15,000 charging points across Europe by 2030. [Extracted from the article]

Galway City Council in Ireland is seeking engineering and design consultancy teams to assist with the roll-out of electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure. This initiative comes in response to reports of a lack of charging points in the county, with some stretches of road having only one charging point every 50 miles. The council will be following the government's Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure Strategy 2022-2025, which aims to develop a national EV charging network in collaboration with local councils. In addition, Ireland has introduced a €21 million grant scheme for EVs, which will fund charging infrastructure roll-outs every 60km along major roads. Interested parties have until July 1, 2024, to respond to the council's tender. [Extracted from the article]

GuarantCo, a company under the Private Infrastructure Development Group (PIDG), has provided Capital Bank of Jordan with JOD 24.8 million ($35m) to support its infrastructure financing of sustainable projects aligned with the Paris Agreement. This is the first such arrangement in Jordan, and it aims to help the country reduce its emissions by 31% under its Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) climate strategy. The government will invest 5% of the required funding, with the rest financed by the private sector. Jordan's Ministry of Investment sees this deal as a potential model for similar agreements in the region. [Extracted from the article]