On Tuesday, the Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources, Dr. Saleh Al-Kharabsheh, inaugurated the First National Conference on Energy and Mineral Resources, which was attended by a number of experts and specialists in energy and construction fields, in addition to representatives from leading institutions and companies in both the public and private sectors.
اضافة اعلان
In his speech during the conference, Al-Kharabsheh emphasized that Jordan has a developed energy sector, noting that around 27% of the country’s electricity is generated from renewable sources, making Jordan rank first in the Middle East in terms of the contribution of renewable energy to the electricity mix.
He also mentioned that the government aims to develop the mining sector in the country, with plans to license specialized companies to search for gold, copper, and other mineral resources. Furthermore, he highlighted efforts to work on producing green hydrogen in line with the royal vision for economic modernization.
For her part, the Secretary-General of the Ministry of Energy, Engineer Amani Al-Azam, stated that Jordan relies on multiple sources for natural gas, notably the floating gas vessel in the port of Aqaba. She explained that the ministry is working on projects to convert gas into compressed gas to reduce costs for industrial cities, and is continuing the work on replacing smart meters and automating the energy sector’s services, which will soon be available electronically.
Meanwhile, the Chairman of the Energy and Minerals Regulatory Commission, Engineer Ziad Al-Saideh, explained that 2024 witnessed the implementation of an incentive electricity tariff, which helped achieve financial savings for the benefiting sectors. He also confirmed that 75% of the smart meters in the kingdom had been replaced, with plans to complete the project soon.
In the same context, the Chairman of the Jordan Chamber of Industry and the Amman Chamber of Industry, Engineer Fathi Al-Jaghbeer, stated that unemployment is the biggest challenge facing Jordan. He revealed that the chamber had proposed establishing a holding company for gas transportation, which will contribute to creating new job opportunities.
On the other hand, the Chairman of the Energy Committee in the Parliament, MP Haitham Zayadin, confirmed that the committee held several meetings to discuss the available gas quantities in the country, pointing out that studies indicate that the Risha gas field contains 4.5 trillion cubic feet of gas, which is enough to meet Jordan's needs for six years.
At the conclusion of the conference, it was emphasized that it is crucial to enhance investment in the energy and mineral resources sector and work on achieving sustainable energy transition to support the national economy.
