DII consortium to hold on to Desertec project - report

Jul 2, 2013 - The Desertec Industrial Initiative (DII) consortium plans to hold on to the Desertec project despite the fact that the Desertec Foundation has terminated its membership, a spokesman told news agency DPA-AFX.

According to the spokesman, the exit of the foundation does not substantially threaten the work on the project. However, he added that there would be personnel changes at the top of the DII consortium, the news agency reported on Monday.

The Desertec Foundation has previously announced it had terminated its membership in the DII consortium, which is responsible for the realisation of the Desertec project in Europe, North Africa and the Middle East. This decision is a result of many irresolvable disputes between the two entities regarding future strategies, obligations and their communication as well as the managerial style of DII’s top management, the foundation announced in its statement.

According to various media reports, DII's head Paul van Son and deputy director Aglaia Wieland have different views about the future of the project.

The DII consortium was set up in Germany in 2009 by 12 German parties with the aim to support the Desertec project, the objective of which is to develop solar power and wind resources in the North Africa and the Middle East (MENA) deserts in order to power a network extending to Europe and the Middle East.

About a month ago, German daily Die Welt reported that DII had lost many of its member companies as it had so far failed to meet many of its targets and its struggling for a new start.

However, according to German daily Handelsblatt, Schott Solar, Deutsche Bank (ETR:DBK), E.on (ETR:EOAN), RWE (ETR:RWE) and ABB (VTX:ABBN, STO:ABB) are still among the members of the DII consortium.

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