A London-based bank is providing a $25 million (£15.4m) loan for the construction of a 20MW solar power plant in Jordan.

The project – being developed by SunEdison – is expected to help address the nation’s energy shortages as it imports more than 97% of the energy it consumes.

Nandita Parshad, Director for Power and Energy at the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) said: “Jordan is a country where solar energy can make a clean and reliable contribution to meeting rising demand and reducing dependence on expensive hydrocarbons.”

The EBRD has invested around €200 million (£56m) in Jordan since 2012.