Ammon News - Jordan Phosphate Mines Company (JPMC) on Sunday launched in Aqaba a major gas pipeline to feed the company’s industrial complex.

The launch of the pipeline came as part of an agreement signed by the company with the Jordanian Egyptian FAJR for Natural Gas Transmission and Supply Company and Egypt Natural Gas Company to supply the industrial complex in Aqaba with about 1,370 million cubic feet of natural gas per year, according to the Jordan news Agency, Petra.

Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Hala Zawati, during the ceremony, expressed pride that the launch coincided with His Majesty King Abdullah’s birthday, highlighting that the pipeline supports “a national edifice of an added value”.

Energy strategy and its executive plan moved towards using natural gas, a step to reducing industrial energy costs, Zawati said, noting that industries that switched to natural gas have seen a cost reduction of 25 to 55 per cent.

Stressing the government’s support for the natural gas transformation, Zawati described the Southern Industrial Complex gas pipeline as “a step in the right direction”, expressing hope that it will enhance the competitiveness of JPMC’s products by replacing oil with natural gas as a fuel, which is a lower cost alternative.