ammonnews.net

Ammon News - Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Saleh Kharabsheh on Thursday urged industrial sector stakeholders to conduct a thorough analysis of their natural gas needs in order to lower operating costs and improve competitiveness.

The study should concentrate on industrial clusters and detail the quantities they require as well as the anticipated growth rates of consumption, the minister told a meeting at the Amman Chamber of Industry.

Kharabsheh noted that the Kingdom has a multifaceted energy waste that is approximately 25 percent higher than the global average, adding, "It is unreasonable to import the most of of our energy from abroad."

The minister also said that some businesses, including hotels near the Dead Sea, reduced their energy costs by 60 percent by rationalizing their power consumption.

For his part, Fathi Jaghbir, president of the Jordan and Amman Chambers of Industry, urged reciprocity and restrictions on the import of locally produced goods, warning that if production costs were not reduced, the Jordanian industry would be in an unfavorable position.

He noted that although the Jordanian product enjoys a high reputation in export markets, the high costs deprive it of competition. "We must seek to provide gas to factories to reduce costs and be competitive," he said.