Ammon News - Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources, Dr. Saleh Kharabsheh , said Jordan has an "advanced" energy sector, noting that about 27% of the Kingdom's electricity is generated from renewable sources.

The minister stated this achievement made Jordan the "first" country in the Middle East, in terms of the contribution of renewable energy to the electricity mix.

Inaugurating the First National Conference on Energy and Mineral Resources Tuesday, Kharabsheh noted the government seeks to develop the mining sector, adding that companies specialized in exploring gold, copper and mineral resources will be licensed for the first time for this purpose.

Kharabsheh also referred to current efforts to produce green hydrogen according to the Economic Modernization Vision.

For her part, the ministry's Secretary-General, Amani Azzam, said Jordan relies on several sources to obtain natural gas, mainly the floating gas ship in the port of Aqaba.

The ministry, she noted, is working on projects to convert gas into compressed liquid, aimed to reduce costs for Jordan's industrial estates and automate energy and minerals sector services, which will be "available online soon."

Meanwhile, Chairman of the Board of Energy and Minerals Regulatory Commission (EMRC), Ziad Sa'aideh, said the year 2024 witnessed implementation of an incentive electricity tariff that contributed to achieving financial savings for the beneficiary sectors.

Sa'aideh stressed that 75% of the Kingdom's electric meters in the Kingdom have been replaced with smart devices, with plans to complete the entire project "soon."

Chairman of the Jordan and Amman Chamber of Industry, Fathi Jaghbir, said the chamber has submitted a proposal to establish a holding company - under establishment - to transport gas, which would contribute to providing new job opportunities.

Head of the Lower House Energy Committee, MP Haitham Ziyadin, said results of studies indicate that Risha field contains 4.5 trillion cubic feet of gas, an amount sufficient to meet Jordan's needs for six years.

On its closing ceremony, the conference stressed the need to enhance investment in the Kingdom's energy and mineral wealth sector and work to achieve "sustainable" energy transformation to support the national economy.

The event, which was organized by Al-Taj News Company, saw participation of experts in the energy and construction fields and representatives of the public and private sectors' institutions. Petra