Amman: Amman hosted the fourth meeting of the pilot project for energy exchange among the countries of the Arab Mashreq, serving as the nucleus for the Arab Common Electricity Market. The National Electric Power Company (NEPCO) held the meeting under the auspices of the Arab League on April 27 and 28.
According to Jordan News Agency, the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources and NEPCO represented the Kingdom at the meeting, alongside their counterparts from Saudi Arabia and Egypt. The meeting aimed to reach agreement on the technical aspects necessary to establish the pilot project, setting the stage for the accession of additional Arab countries in subsequent phases.
This initiative is foundational for establishing a common Arab electricity market grounded in commercial and economic principles. It seeks to provide energy to the region’s populations at the lowest cost and highest quality, while supporting the transition to renewable energy sources and reducing carbon emissions.
The project holds particular significance for advancing Arab economic integration, in line with the Arab League’s objectives of enhancing economic cooperation among member states. It aims to facilitate regional energy trade and bolster energy security by linking national grids and creating an official regional electricity market.
Future plans envision linking the power systems of 22 Arab countries, promoting investment opportunities and saving billions of dollars by reducing costs and minimizing the need for new power plants. Studies published by the Arab League indicate that these interconnection projects are expected to be completed by 2038.
Jordan, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt were selected for the pilot project based on existing electricity links between Jordan and Egypt, which have been in place for more than two decades. There is also the ongoing 3,000-megawatt interconnection project between Egypt and Saudi Arabia, expected to be operational by the end of 2025. Negotiations are ongoing between Jordan and Saudi Arabia to finalize their electricity interconnection agreements.