N'djamena: Mahamat Idriss D©by Itno, President of the Republic of Chad, has awarded Ali Alshimmari, CEO and Managing Director of the UAE-based Global South Utilities (GSU), the 'Officer of the National Order of Chad,' one of the country's highest honours. The award is in recognition of Alshimmari's commitment to delivering the 'Noor Chad' solar power plant in record time.

According to Emirates News Agency, when the agreement was signed with the Chadian government last year, Alshimmari pledged to complete the plant within 12 months. In September, just eight months after construction began, the project was inaugurated, transforming a promise into a tangible achievement. This milestone makes Alshimmari the first CEO of a foreign company in Chad to sign an agreement of this scale and see it executed on time.

The Noor Chad plant has a capacity of 50 MW and includes a 5 MWh battery storage system, marking it as the first solar project of its size in the country. The plant provides clean electricity to over 270,000 households, significantly enhancing the energy landscape in Chad.

Following the award, Alshimmari expressed his gratitude, stating, "This achievement was made possible thanks to the vision, guidance, and support of the UAE's leadership. This honour is a great privilege for me personally, but in truth, it belongs to everyone who worked with dedication to deliver the Noor Chad plant in record time. We promised the people of Chad clean electricity, and today we are proud to have fulfilled that promise."