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Ammon News - AMMONNEWS - Prime Minister Abdullah Ensour has said energy is one of the most important challenges facing Jordan, noting that power and infrastructure are key factors to promote production capacity, manufacturing, domestic and foreign trade and investment and sustainable growth.

Ensour's remarks came during attending '' Jordan International Energy Summit '' organized by ministry of energy and mineral resources, with a wide domestic, Arab and international participation.

''Energy security is an immediate challenge. Jordan’s energy dependence makes us vulnerable through heavy reliance on fuel and gas imports. The challenges that confront the Kingdom’s energy sector are substantial, but so are the opportunities,'' Ensour said during his speech on Tuesday.

Commenting on Jordan's national strategy currently underway, Ensour added, ''To fulfil His Majesty King Abdullah II's vision for energy, Jordan is working actively to implement and its National Energy Strategy 2007-2020.'' On his part, Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources, Ibrahim Saif, said the energy sector holds a strategic importance for the purposes of stability and development, pointing out the importance of identifying and finding the best alternatives to energy challenges that contribute towards ensuring a secure supply and reducing dependence of imported fuel.

Jordan, he said, imports around 97 percent of its energy needs, equivalent to nearly 18 percent of gross domestic product in 2014.