Energy
From The Report: Jordan 2018
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Dependent on imports and grappling with regional instability and major supply disruptions, Jordan’s energy sector has faced several challenging years. Rapid population growth – with the kingdom seeing an estimated 1.3m Syrian refugees arrive since 2011 – has also exacerbated existing water scarcity, especially in Amman and Jordan’s northern areas. These challenges have prompted the government to pursue new opportunities through private sector development, with private firms set to play an important role in delivering new water, oil shale, nuclear, and renewable energy projects. Indeed, Jordan has risen to become a regional leader and model for solar energy development, while authorities are reporting steady progress in flagship oil shale and nuclear power projects, as well as the Red Sea Dead Sea conveyance project, which should significantly augment water supply and introduce large-scale desalination activities to the water sector for the first time. This chapter contains an interview with Saleh Kharabsheh, Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources.

Articles from this Chapter

Overview

Energising new tactics: The sector is increasingly turning to private development and renewable sources to power the nation
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Dependent on imports and grappling with regional instability and major supply disruptions, Jordan’s energy sector has faced several challenging years. Rapid population growth, which includes the kingdom absorbing an estimated 1.3m Syrian refugees since 2011, has exacerbated existing water scarcity, especially in the northern region of Jordan. These challenges have prompted the government to pursue new opportunities through private sector development, with private firms set to play an important…

Interview

Bright future: Saleh Kharabsheh, Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources, on supporting renewable energy sources
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Interview:Saleh Kharabsheh How will the Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Programme serve to further develop and grow Jordan’s green economy? SALEH KHARABSHEH: Jordan aims to become energy independent, and we are already on track to meet our goal of producing 10% of our energy mix from renewable sources by 2020. Prices are down sharply in this market, and all incentives are set up to maximise growth in the coming years. Jordan aims to play a major role in the future by becoming a leading…

Analysis

Bright horizons: The solar segment continues to offer an increasing array of development opportunities
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Solar power is set to play an important role in helping achieve Jordan’s goal of having renewables meet 10% of its energy needs by 2020. Regional volatility and a lack of hydrocarbon reserves spurred the government to develop one of the most comprehensive policy frameworks for renewable energy projects in the Middle East. Currently, the solar production base includes water heaters and air conditioning systems, while increasingly frequent investment announcements highlight the rising interest in…

Analysis

Pooling resources: Multiple approaches serving as route to greater water security
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In June 2015 the Ministry of Water and Irrigation (MoWI) launched the National Water Strategy (NWS) 2016-25, which aims to reduce costs and boost annual water supply by 550m cu metres through exploration, drilling and infrastructure investment. The Red Sea Dead Sea Conveyance (RSDS) project is one of the main projects under the plan; however, drilling activity in the Shidiyeh-Al Hasa deep aquifer is also a key part of the strategy and is expected to add 65m cu metres of deep aquifer water to supply. Scarcity…