The Palestinian Energy Authority has signed a agreement with US-based Samaha company to build a 30MW solar power plant in Gaza, said a report.

A renewable energy firm owned by a Palestinian businessman, Samaha will carry out work on the land that used to be part of a Jewish settlement before the Israeli withdrawal [from the Gaza Strip] in 2005, said local media reports.

The project is expected to be finalised within nine months, it stated.

According to experts, Gaza badly needs 410MW annually which is poised to touch 855MW by 2020.