KORLAT, Croatia, May 15 (Xinhua) -- The groundbreaking ceremony for Croatia's largest photovoltaic power project, to be constructed by Chinese companies, was held Thursday in Korlat. Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic expressed hope that the Korlat solar project would further deepen cooperation and enhance ties between the two countries.
The project, located in Korlat, a small settlement within the city of Benkovac in Zadar County, will be constructed by a Chinese consortium, consisting of China's Norinco International Cooperation Ltd. (Norinco International) and the Shandong Electric Power Engineering Consulting Institute.
In his speech at the ceremony, Plenkovic also highlighted the successful collaboration on the Chinese-built Senj Wind Farm and expressed his pleasure in renewing cooperation with Chinese partner companies.
For his part, Chinese Ambassador to Croatia Qi Qianjin said that the Korlat project would significantly boost regional economic development, create jobs, improve livelihoods, and support Croatia's energy transition and green development.
He expressed his hope that Norinco International would earnestly fulfill its responsibilities as the contractor, operate in compliance with regulations, and deliver another high-quality project that satisfies all parties.
In October last year, the consortium won the tender to build the Korlat solar power project, with an installed capacity of 99 megawatts.
Upon completion, it is expected to generate 165 million kilowatt-hours of green electricity annually, meeting the electricity needs of approximately 50,000 households, while also reducing carbon dioxide emissions by 150,000 tons per year. The project is scheduled to be connected to the grid in April 2026.
