Aqaba: Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources and Chair of the Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Fund, Saleh Kharabsheh, signed agreements Thursday for the “Energy Efficiency” project with eight three-star or lower hotels in Aqaba to provide direct financial support covering 50 percent of project costs.
According to Jordan News Agency, Kharabsheh explained that the ministry and the Aqaba Special Economic Zone Authority (ASEZA) will each contribute 25 percent toward the total support provided to hotels implementing energy efficiency measures. The project, valued at JD700,000, is expected to benefit the tourism sector through energy performance contracting.
The agreements are anticipated to reduce energy consumption by approximately 891 megawatt-hours annually, resulting in financial savings estimated at JD70,000 per year. Kharabsheh stated that these savings will enhance the competitiveness of participating hotels and create additional job opportunities.
Kharabsheh also noted that the project aims to
reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 351 tons of carbon dioxide equivalent, aligning with the ministry’s goals and Jordan’s international environmental and climate commitments.
Deputy Chairman of ASEZA and Commissioner of Economy and Tourism, Hamza Haj Hassan, underscored that the ASEZA’s strategy aligns with the objectives of the energy efficiency project. He commended the project partners for supporting cost reductions in the energy bills for Aqaba’s tourism and hotel facilities.
Haj Hassan highlighted the importance of the project in fostering sustainable development, creating employment, and enhancing hotel services for visitors. He pointed to the ASEZA’s strategic objective to increase hotel room capacity to accommodate more visitors while promoting development in tourism, economy, and infrastructure.
CEO of the Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Fund, Rasmi Hamza, affirmed the Fund’s commitment to conducting energy audits, funded by the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), to identify solutio
ns that reduce energy consumption and improve efficiency.
He added that the Fund’s programs extend beyond the tourism sector to include the industrial and other vital sectors, aiming to lower energy costs and improve economic performance across target industries.