Amman: Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources, Dr. Saleh Kharabsheh, on Tuesday signed 72 agreements with industrial establishments, which are members and beneficiaries from the grant and services of the Industrial Sector Energy Efficiency Program, in the presence of Chairman of the Jordan Chamber of Industry, Fathi Jaghbir.
According to Jordan News Agency, Kharabsheh, who is also Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Jordan Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Fund (JREEEF), emphasized the importance of the Kingdom’s industrial sector as a crucial element for achieving economic development and growth rates, which are outlined by the Economic Modernization Vision. He highlighted that the sector serves as a significant driver of the economy and plays a vital role in addressing and alleviating the Kingdom’s unemployment challenges.
The agreements are part of the ministry’s efforts to reduce burdens on the industrial sector by implementing several programs aimed at achieving energy savings of up to 60% for the program’s beneficiary industrial establishments, without impacting their operations. Energy consumption density in Jordan surpasses the global average, necessitating integrated measures to control consumption and achieve notable savings, the minister noted.
Furthermore, Kharabsheh referred to the ministry’s initiatives to support the sector, including delivering natural gas to industrial estates and licensing companies to transport gas to regions distant from the target industrial complexes. Tenders have been floated to deliver natural gas to industrial estates in Rawda Ma’an, Muwaqqar, Zarqa, and Mafraq.
The minister revealed projects to generate 100 megawatts of energy for factories, stating that the industrial sector’s awareness of these measures would contribute to a significant reduction in energy costs. Additionally, he announced an exemption of factories in the industrial development zones in the southern Tafilah and Karak governorates by 75% during the first five years, with this rate decreasing to 50% and 25% after 3 and 2 years, respectively, as part of the government’s direct support to enhance the industrial sector’s growth capability.