MASE to Operate, Maintain & Manage Al Kawn’s Solar PV Plants

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MASE signs operations, maintenance and asset management contract for two commercial wheeling solar PV plants

  • The commercial plants are located in the cities of Al Sult and Ras Al Naqab 
  • The plants are connected to the distribution network and will feed to the respective grids via a wheeling arrangement
  • One of the few regional examples of solar plants installed with bi-facial solar PV panels
  • MASE will carry out a turn-key O&M services and asset management scope 

Amman – Jordan, December 2020: MASE, the leading regional solar operations and maintenance firm, and Al Kawn Radio & TV Broadcasting, a principal owner and operator of radio and TV broadcasting platforms in Jordan, announce the signing of an operations, maintenance and asset management contract for two commercial-scale solar PV plants located in Al Sult and Ras Al Naqab, Jordan.  The plants, developed and owned by Al Kawn, are interconnected to the local distribution networks on a wheeling arrangement.  They have been financed by the Cairo Amman Bank under a commercial loan agreement.

The plants, which have a combined installed capacity of 280 kWp, are fitted with the latest bi-facial panel technology and cutting-edge Huawei string inverters.

Under the contract, MASE will carry out turn-key operations, maintenance and management services comprising preventative, predictive and corrective maintenance to ensure the plant’s long-term performance and optimal availability.  MASE will also carry out asset management services comprising periodical management reporting and to ensure compliance with owner, grid and lender requirements.

O&M for solar plants fitted with bi-facial panel technology

The Al Kawn Solar PV Plants are fitted with bi-facial solar panels, representing a unique and exciting operational challenge, particularly as it relates to periodical panel cleaning.  MASE has devised a unique operational approach which resulted from a particular design for the panels allocation process.  In undertaking the operations and maintenance for the facilities, MASE will establish a proven track record for bi-facial solar panel maintenance.

 

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About Al Kawn Radio & TV Broadcasting

Al Kawn is Jordan’s leading owner and operator of radio and TV broadcasting platforms.  The company owns and operates three FM radio channels – Radio Rotana, Radio Fann and Yaqeen FM – and one satellite and digital TV channel – Amman TV.  With the commissioning of its two commercial-scale solar PV plants, Al Kawn will offset nearly 100% of its broadcasting electricity consumption across Jordan.

About MASE’s O&M Value Proposition

MASE operates, maintains and manages commercial and utility-scale solar PV plants with a combined capacity exceeding 100 MWp of operating assets under management.  Our dedication is to long-term performance and our award-winning operations and maintenance value proposition comprises a turn-key scope covering preventive and corrective maintenance, performance engineering and rehabilitation.

In June 2019, we received the ‘Fastest Growing O&M Service Provider’ award for the MENA region from International Finance Magazine, a leading UK-based industry publication.  In May 2020, we signed an O&M contract to operate and maintain CIM’s Falcon Ma’an Solar PV Plant.

 

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MASE Joins Jordan Strategy Forum

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MASE joins the Jordan Strategy Forum as its newest clean energy-focused member

  • JSF is a leading Jordanian think tank on economic development
  • It’s by-invitation only membership ensures a dynamic vetting process
  • As a JSF member, MASE will leverage its award-winning track record to provide actionable insights in the field of clean energy

Amman, Jordan – September 2020, MASE, the leading regional solar operations and maintenance firm, has joined the Jordan Strategy Forum as its newest clean energy-focused member.  MASE will leverage its award-wining track record and knowledge base in developing and operating utility-scale solar PV plants across the region to provide the Forum with actionable insights in the field of clean energy.

 

“The opportunity to be part of Jordan’s leading economic development think tank is something that we are very excited about.  At MASE, we’ve developed a deep understanding of how clean energy power generation assets can positively impact Jordan’s energy infrastructure and we look forward to sharing those insights to advance Jordan’s energy ambitions and advocate for energy diversity across Jordan’s grid”, said Tareq Khalifeh, MASE’s Managing Director.

 

JSF has been an instrumental platform in bridging together Jordan’s private and public institutions.  The Forum’s member base includes an array of Jordan’s most reputable firms operating across diverse business sectors and the Forum has become renowned for its high-profile events.

 

On his part, JSF’s CEO His Excellency DR. Ibrahim Saif said: “we are very excited to welcome MASE as a member of the Jordan Strategy Forum. I am thankful for your trust in us and very sure that it will be a win-win relationship. The forum is only as strong as its base of members, and we are counting on your active contribution to our committees and activities.”

 

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About Jordan Strategy Forum

Jordan Strategy Forum is a leading think tank on Economic development. Founded on August 30, 2012, JSF was formed in order to enable the private sector to engage in constructive dialogue on local economic issues and achieve comprehensive economic development. From start-ups to established companies and medium-sized firms, JSF consists of a variety of companies, in addition to scholars and specialists of the Jordanian economy.

 

About MASE

MASE operates, maintains and manages commercial and utility-scale solar PV plants with a combined capacity exceeding 100 MWp of operating assets under management.  Our dedication is to long-term performance and our award-winning operations and maintenance value proposition comprises a turn-key scope covering preventive and corrective maintenance, performance engineering and rehabilitation.

In June 2019, we received the ‘Fastest Growing O&M Service Provider’ award for the MENA region from International Finance Magazine, a leading UK-based industry publication.  In May 2020, we signed an O&M contract to operate and maintain CIM’s Falcon Ma’an Solar PV Plant.

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MASE to Operate & Maintain CIM’s Shamsuna Solar PV Plant

Shamsuna

MASE signs operations and maintenance contract for Shamsuna 10 MW Solar PV Plant

  • Located in Aqaba, the Plant is part of Jordan’s Round I Renewable Energy Program and a member of IFC’s Seven Sisters
  • MASE will carry out a turn-key O&M services scope 

Amman, Jordan – May 2020: MASE, the leading regional solar operations and maintenance firm, signed a turn-key contract with Catalyst Investment Management (CIM) to operate and maintain the Shamsuna 10 MW Solar PV Plant located within Solar Park I of the Ma’an Development Area in Ma’an, Jordan.  The Plant, owned by CIM, is part of Jordan’s Round I Renewable Energy IPP Program.  It is financed by the World Bank’s International Finance Corporation (IFC), acting as mandate lender for the Seven Sisters Program, together with the Entrepreneurial Development Bank (FMO).

Under the contract, MASE will carry out turn-key operations, maintenance and management services comprising preventative, predictive and corrective maintenance to ensure the plant’s long-term performance and optimal availability.  MASE was selected by CIM as part of a competitive request for proposal process, which involved technical and commercial due diligence carried out by the project lenders and their technical advisers.  The process and subsequent award further cements the bankability of MASE’s solar O&M value proposition and adds upon its rapidly growing operational track record in Jordan.

A case for operating brownfield PV plants in Jordan       

The Shamsuna Solar PV Plant was commissioned in February 2016 and operates under a 20-year PPA with the National Electric Power Company (NEPCO).  The Plant was constructed by Enerray as EPC Contractor, also acting as O&M up until the handover to MASE, as second-term O&M service provider.  The O&M contract with MASE will be one of the first major involvement of a specialized O&M firm in a brownfield utility-scale solar PV plant in Jordan and is expected to set a local contractual and operational precedent for other solar assets opting to decommission the involvement of the EPC Contractor in the longer-term operations and maintenance.

 

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About Catalyst Investment Management

Catalyst Investment Management (also known as Catalyst Private Equity) is a specialized energy and water sector investment management company operating out of Jordan, covering primarily the Middle East and North Africa.

CIM’s goal is to help create, invest in, and grow a world class base of renewable energy projects and value added companies that primarily supply the energy and water treatment sectors. These companies range from project developers and projects, to technology developers, to product developers that will help grow and maintain the region’s vital energy and water sectors. Given the region’s global significance in these sectors, the region becomes a platform for the global market. CIM partners with international and regional technology and industry specialists to support this vision.

About MASE’s O&M Value Proposition

MASE operates, maintains and manages commercial and utility-scale solar PV plants with a combined capacity exceeding 100 MWp of operating assets under management.  Our dedication is to long-term performance and our award-winning operations and maintenance value proposition comprises a turn-key scope covering preventive and corrective maintenance, performance engineering and rehabilitation.

In June 2019, we received the ‘Fastest Growing O&M Service Provider’ award for the MENA region from International Finance Magazine, a leading UK-based industry publication.  In May 2020, we signed an O&M contract to operate and maintain CIM’s Falcon Ma’an Solar PV Plant.

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MASE to Operate & Maintain Falcon Ma’an Solar Plant

Falcon Ma'an Plant

MASE inks operations and maintenance contract for Falcon Ma’an 23 MW Solar PV Plant

  • Plant developed and owned by Catalyst Investment Management, a leading clean energy developer
  • MASE will carry out a turn-key O&M services scope 
  • Contract further cements the bankability of MASE’s solar O&M value proposition

Amman, Jordan – May 2020: MASE, a leading regional solar operations and maintenance firm, signed a turn-key contract with Catalyst Investment Management (CIM) to operate and maintain the Falcon Ma’an 23 MW Solar PV Plant located within Solar Park I of the Ma’an Development Area in Ma’an, Jordan.  The Plant, developed and owned by CIM, is part of Jordan’s Round I Renewable Energy IPP Program.  It is financed by the World Bank’s International Finance Corporation (IFC), acting as mandate lender for the Seven Sisters Program, together with the Entrepreneurial Development Bank (FMO).

Under the contract, MASE will carry out turn-key operations, maintenance and management services comprising preventative, predictive and corrective maintenance to ensure the plant’s long-term performance and optimal availability.  MASE was selected by CIM as part of a competitive request for proposal process, which involved technical and commercial due diligence carried out by the project lenders and their technical advisers.  The process and subsequent award further cements the bankability of MASE’s solar O&M value proposition and adds upon its rapidly growing operational track record in the region.

A case for brownfield PV plants in Jordan       

The Falcon Ma’an Plant was commissioned in October 2016 and operates under a 20-year PPA with the National Electric Power Company (NEPCO).  The Plant was constructed by Enerray as EPC Contractor, also acting as O&M up until the handover to MASE, as second-term O&M service provider.  The O&M contract with MASE is considered the first major involvement of a specialized O&M firm in a brownfield utility-scale solar PV plant in Jordan and is expected to set a local contractual and operational precedent for other solar assets opting to decommission the involvement of the EPC Contractor in the longer-term operations and maintenance.

 

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About Catalyst Investment Management

Catalyst Investment Management (also known as Catalyst Private Equity) is a specialized energy and water sector investment management company operating out of Jordan, covering primarily the Middle East and North Africa.

CIM’s goal is to help create, invest in, and grow a world class base of renewable energy projects and value added companies that primarily supply the energy and water treatment sectors. These companies range from project developers and projects, to technology developers, to product developers that will help grow and maintain the region’s vital energy and water sectors. Given the region’s global significance in these sectors, the region becomes a platform for the global market. CIM partners with international and regional technology and industry specialists to support this vision.

About MASE’s O&M Value Proposition

MASE operates, maintains and manages commercial and utility-scale solar PV plants with a combined capacity exceeding 100 MWp of operating assets under management.  Our dedication is to long-term performance and our award-winning operations and maintenance value proposition comprises a turn-key scope covering preventive and corrective maintenance, performance engineering and rehabilitation.

In June 2019, we received the ‘Fastest Growing O&M Service Provider’ award for the MENA region from International Finance Magazine, a leading UK-based industry publication.  In December 2019, we signed an O&M contract to operate and maintain the Masdar City Solar PV Plant on behalf of Masdar, a leading regional renewable energy developer.

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MASE Funds Campaign Combating COVID-19 Pandemic in Jordan

Faz3et Shabab

MASE supports the Faz3et Shabab campaign to curb the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic in Jordan

  • Funding will go towards supporting key campaign initiatives targeting critical front line endeavors in the fight against the Coronovirus pandemic across Jordan
  • The initiative was launched by a group of young Jordanians in support of local efforts being carried out by the healthcare sector and government to contain the novel Coronavirus
  • Initiatives comprise procurement of critical medical and PPE supplies, hygiene kits and sanitary equipment, and direct financial support for vulnerable families impacted by the pandemic

Amman, Jordan – April 2020: MASE has committed funds to support the Faz3et Shabab initiative, a makeshift grassroots campaign that emerged spontaneously in response to the COVID-19 crisis facing Jordan today.  The initiative aims to mobilize individuals and the private sector to support the country at this time of crisis.

The funding is committed by MASE as part of its Advancing Solar Initiative on behalf of its employees and team members, who continue to work on the front lines to ensure that the power plants which we manage are operating with peak performance and availability, generating clean and efficient power to national grids across regions in which we operate.

“We decided to commit funding to the Faz3et Shabab initiative because they proposed a transparent platform which enabled us to understand where our money was spent.  The team behind Faz3et Shabab also proposed uncustomary ideas which aligned with the core values of our Advancing Solar Initiative”, said Tareq Khalifeh, MASE’s Managing Director.

 

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About the MASE Advancing Solar Initiative

The MASE Advancing Solar Initiative is a corporate social responsibility program aimed at advancing MASE’s corporate vision and sustainability values across communities in Jordan and abroad.  The Initiative aims to fund, support, develop and implement clean energy programs within key impoverished communities, social gatherings and education establishments.  The Initiative also aims to spread awareness of solar energy and to provide opportunities for basic solar installation skill development, vocational training and technical coaching.  Additionally, the Initiative aims to supports local and regional efforts addressing a multitude of social and economic impact schemes.

The MASE Advancing Solar Initiative is funded by the company’s own resources and executed by its team.

About the Faz3et Shabab Campaign

Faz3et Shabab is a makeshift grassroots campaign that emerged spontaneously in response to the COVID-19 crisis facing Jordan today.  It aims to mobilize individuals and the private sector to support the country at this time of crisis.

As young Jordanians, living both in the country and abroad, we believe it is our responsibility to contribute to the efforts being carried out by the healthcare sector and government to contain the novel Coronavirus.

The Faz3et Shabab team and their close families and friends will anchor the campaign with the initial JOD 100,000 of funds.

The campaign will be documented and financially audited to ensure transparency and accountability for all donors.

 

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MASE Kicks Off 2020 with Offsite in Thessaloniki

MASE Kicks Off 2020 in Thessaloniki

MASE kicks off 2020 with an offsite annual assembly in the coastal town of Thessaloniki, Greece

  • Team looks back at 2019, appraises accomplishments and lessons learnt 
  • Agrees on strategy and targets for 2020 and beyond
  • Commemorates successful collaboration with international O&M partners

Thessaloniki, Greece – February 2020: MASE, the leading regional solar operations and maintenance firm with over 100 MW of assets under management , has kicked off the year 2020 with an offsite team retreat to Thessaloniki, a coastal port town in Greece.  The gathering encompassed the company’s 2020 Kick Off Assembly, a high-level annual event during which core members of the MASE team discuss accomplishments, compare targets, assess shortcomings and agree on the strategy for the year ahead.

This year’s version of the Kick Off Assembly also included a commemorative event with Alectris, a MASE O&M partner company based out of Thessaloniki and operating globally.  The successful collaboration between MASE and Alectris started in 2015 when the two companies signed an innovative technical services agreement targeting utility-scale solar O&M.  Ever since, MASE and Alectris have both achieved leadership status in their own right and the companies look forward to continued successful collaboration during the years ahead.

In 2019, MASE realized a number of key achievements including adding over 70 MW of solar O&M capacity under management, established operations in the UAE and earned a number of industry awards.  During 2019, the MASE team grew by adding 13 team members.

“We’re extremely proud of what we’ve achieved at MASE in 2019 and it was great to be able celebrate this with the team in Thessaloniki, a scenic gem!” said Tareq Khalifeh, MASE’s Managing Director

As for the strategy for the period ahead, MASE will continue its dedication towards long-term solar performance.  The Company will focus efforts on growing solar O&M capacity under management in Jordan and regionally and will continue to accelerate workforce capabilities and operational advancement.

 

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MASE Signs O&M Contract for Masdar City Solar Plant

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MASE to operate and maintain the iconic Masdar City Solar PV Plant in Abu Dhabi

  • Contract will set a regional precedent for O&M of brownfield PV plants
  • MASE Services Middle East Limited will carry out the turnkey services
  • Masdar will rely on MASE for plant performance and availability

Abu Dhabi, UAE – December 2019: MASE has signed a contract with Masdar Specialized Technical Services (MSTSC), a Masdar company, to operate and maintain Masdar’s Solar PV Plant located in Masdar City, Abu Dhabi.  The 10 MW solar PV Plant was the first grid-connected renewable energy project in the UAE and the largest of its kind in the Middle East when inaugurated in 2009.  The O&M services will be carried out by MASE Services Middle East Limited, MASE’s UAE subsidiary.

The iconic facility, developed and owned by Masdar, is located at the heart of the cutting-edge Masdar City – an iconic multi-usage real estate development that drives and implements sustainability concepts and green technologies across all of its corners – and produces about 17,500 megawatt-hours of clean electricity annually and offsets 15,000 tonnes of carbon emissions per year.  It consists of 87,780 multi-crystalline and thin-film modules.

Setting a regional precedent for brown field PV plants in the region

With the Plant approaching it’s half-life of ten years, the O&M Contract is expected to set a regional precedent for a multitude of facets pertaining to the operations and maintenance of brownfield utility-scale solar PV projects.  The undertaking will set a local and regional benchmark for O&M best-practices associated with the appointment of a specialized O&M service provider to care for solar assets of relatively older age.

In carrying out its O&M services for the Plant, MASE will also implement a contemporary approach aimed at redressing common plant degradation issues to revamp performance, enhance availability and increase longevity.  MASE will execute best-in-class services utilizing the innovative technology comprising advanced module cleaning, digitized ticketing and automated processes.

 

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About Masdar

Abu Dhabi’s renewable energy company Masdar is advancing the commercialisation and deployment of renewable energy, sustainable urban development and clean technologies to address global sustainability challenges. Wholly owned by Mubadala Investment Company, the strategic investment company of the Government of Abu Dhabi, our mandate is to help maintain the UAE’s leadership in the global energy sector, while supporting the diversification of both its economy and energy sources for the benefit of future generations. Masdar’s renewable energy projects are located in the UAE, Jordan, Mauritania, Egypt, Morocco, the UK, Serbia, Spain, Montenegro and North America.

Contacts:
E-mail: press@masdar.ae
Tel enquiries in Arabic: +971 2 653 3333
Tel enquiries in English: +971 2 653 6014
For more information please visit: http://www.masdar.ae and connect: facebook.com/masdar.ae and twitter.com/masdar

About MASE’s O&M Value Proposition

MASE operates, maintains and manages commercial and utility-scale solar PV plants with a combined capacity exceeding 100 MWp of operating assets under management.  Our dedication is to long-term performance and our award-winning operations and maintenance value proposition comprises a turn-key scope covering preventive and corrective maintenance, performance engineering and rehabilitation.

In June 2019, we received the ‘Fastest Growing O&M Service Provider’ award for the MENA region from International Finance Magazine, a leading UK-based industry publication.

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MASE Signs O&M Contract for MOE Solar Plants

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MASE inks O&M Contract for Ministry of Education’s two utility-scale solar PV plants

  • Contract awarded based on competitive bidding process
  • MASE will carry out turnkey O&M services for the two brownfield plants

Amman, Jordan – October 2019: MASE has signed a contract with Jordan’s Ministry of Education (MOE) to operate, maintain and manage the Ministry’s two utility-scale solar PV plants located in Ma’an and Mafraq, each with an installed capacity of 1,000 kW (1 MW).  The plants were developed by the Royal Hashemite Court (RHC) on behalf of the MOE in 2016 and their output is utilized to offset the electricity consumption for a number of schools and MOE offices across Jordan.

The contract was awarded to MASE on the basis of a competitive public tendering process managed by the MOE. As part of the tender evaluation, MASE received the highest technical marks and submitted the most competitive commercial proposal.

MASE’s Commercial O&M Team has been entrusted with managing the plants and will carry out a turnkey scope comprising performance engineering, preventive, corrective and conditional maintenance, in addition to emergency response and corrective maintenance.

 

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About MASE’s O&M Value Proposition

MASE operates, maintains and manages commercial and utility-scale solar PV plants with a combined capacity exceeding 100 MWp of operating assets under management.  Our dedication is to long-term performance and our award-winning operations and maintenance value proposition comprises a turn-key scope covering preventive and corrective maintenance, performance engineering and rehabilitation.

In June 2019, we received the ‘Fastest Growing O&M Service Provider’ award for the MENA region from International Finance Magazine, a leading UK-based industry publication.

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MASE Team Member Research Paper Published in Science Direct

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Science Direct publishes research article co-authored by MASE’s Aya Al-Hmoud

The Internet – July 2019: Science Direct, a leading publisher of scientific and research content, has published a research paper titled ‘Comparative CFD analysis of thermal energy storage materials in photovoltaic/thermal panels’.  The article was co-authored by MASE’s Aya Al-Hmoud (Design & Analysis Engineer) who conducted research and developed findings during her time completing her Master’s of Science degree in Renewable Energy Systems Engineering from University of Surrey in 2018.

At MASE, Aya is responsible for designing commercial and industrial solar PV systems and analyzing the performance of operational solar PV assets as part of the Company’s operations and maintenance value proposition.

The research article is organized into four main sections.  The authors use a transient Computational Fluid Dynamics simulation to compare the performance of desert sand to that of well-established phase-change materials used in photovoltaic/thermal systems. The simulation gives as a result the temperature profiles within the device as well as the time evolution of the charge/discharge cycles when using PCMs. The results show the suitability of desert sand as a thermal storage material to be used in photovoltaic/thermal systems.

The research article can be accessed through the following link.

 

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MASE to Speak at RES4MED B2G Conference

RES4MED

MASE will speak at the Business-to-Government High Level Workshop organized by RES4MED&Africa

Amman, Jordan – March 2019: MASE will be speaking at the high-level business-to-government workshop organized by Renewable Energy Solutions for the Mediterranean and Africa (RES4MED&Africa), a regional platform for public-private sector dialogue with a core focus on addressing renewable energy issues across the Middle East and Africa regions.

MASE will be represented by its Managing Director Tareq Khalifeh, who will address a panel of private and public sector speakers.  The focus of the discussions will be on long-term energy strategies as mechanisms to exploiting new business models for an effective integration of renewable energy systems.

The workshop, which will see the participation of Jordan’s Minister of Energy & Mineral Resources and Minister of Water and Irrigation, is expected to avail a platform of open dialogue between key private sector players and high-level public sector decision makers.

 

About the Workshop

RES4Med&Africa is organizing a high-level Business-to-Government (B2G) workshop focused on the long-term energy strategies and the grid solutions for integrating the renewable energy systems, attracting investments and exploiting the socio-economic benefits of renewables in Jordan.

RES4Med&Africa, with over 7 years of experience in leading policy dialogue, technical support and capacity building activities, is among the only associations active in promoting the uptake of RE investments in Mediterranean and Sub-Saharan African countries and counts on a strong track record in high-level training and Executive Seminars.

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