Deputizing for His Majesty King Abdullah II, Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Saleh Kharabsheh inaugurated the 11th International Geological Congress and the 10th International Symposium on Eastern Mediterranean Geology in Amman on Tuesday.
In opening remarks, Kharabsheh emphasized the growing importance of the geological sector in addressing global food, water, and energy security challenges, highlighting the relevance of the energy transition and the Fourth Industrial Revolution in shaping the sector’s future.
The minister underlined the focus on the mining industry, stressing effective management of natural resources to tackle environmental issues. He called for leveraging scientific research and international cooperation, citing global success stories that demonstrate the value of innovation in addressing challenges.
Kharabsheh further noted the economic modernization vision in boosting the mining sector as a high-value industry, and urged participants to come up with proposals to enhance its c
ontribution to economic development, job creation and GDP growth.
Khaled Shawabkeh, President of the Jordanian Geologists Association and the conference’s chair, commended Jordanian geologists for their support of the national economy through their contributions to the mining, water and energy sectors.
He noted the conference’s focus on key issues, such as natural disaster management, water resources, climate change and seismic activity, with over 120 research papers presented.
Saeed Obaid, Secretary General of the Arab Geologists Union, said a key focus of the conference is fostering cooperation between researchers and promoting investment in energy, water, and mineral resources.
He said geologists have the critical role of optimizing resource use to meet economic and environmental challenges, stressing geology as a basic element for national development.
The conference, attended by ministers, academics and researchers from various countries, will address a range of geological and environmental topics.
Source: Jordan News Agency