Panama’s government has put into operation the country’s first solar plant at a cost of approximately $10 million, authorities said.

The 2.4 MW plant, inaugurated Thursday by President Ricardo Martinelli at the Sarigua National Park in central Panama, was built with the support of the Italian government and Rome-based Enel Green Power, which donated $9 million for the project, the presidential press office said in a statement.

Martinelli mentioned the possibility of a future expansion of the solar plant, which is equipped with 11,886 photovoltaic panels and provides employment opportunities for residents of nearby communities.

The energy produced by the solar facility will be used to supply power to the town of Parita and other nearby communities, the statement said.

The Sarigua National Park, which receives the highest levels of solar energy in all of Central America, is located in an arid region that is considered ideal for the installment of solar power plants.