Gov’t Prioritizes Natural Gas Sector in Energy Strategy 2020-2030, Says Ministry

The Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources underlined on Wednesday that the Jordanian government is placing significant emphasis on the natural gas sector as part of its comprehensive energy strategy for 2020-2030. This strategy aims to diversify energy sources and reduce reliance on a single supply. In a statement, the ministry outlined its commitment to meeting the Kingdom's natural gas needs until 2030 through four primary sources: Egyptian gas supplied via pipelines, gas from the Mediterranean, liquefied gas delivered by a floating terminal in Aqaba, and locally produced gas from the Risha field. Notably, two of these sources are secured by long-term sales and purchase agreements. The ministry highlighted that Jordan's electricity system is powered by various sources, with natural gas constituting 66 percent, renewable energy contributing 20 percent, and the Attarat Oil Shale Power Plant accounting for 14 percent of the energy mix. To ensure reliability, the National Electric Power Company has develo ped plans that include emergency measures in case of a natural gas outage. Most traditional power plants in the Kingdom can operate on alternative fuels, such as diesel or fuel oil. These plants are equipped with storage tanks to maintain a safe supply of alternative fuel for electricity generation. Additionally, the government has taken steps to secure the supply of petroleum derivatives by establishing storage capacities in the Madounah area, totaling 312,000 tons. There are also handling capacities in Aqaba for 106,000 tons of petroleum derivatives, including 6,000 tons of liquefied petroleum gas. The private sector also contributes to storage capacities, ensuring that the supply of petroleum derivatives is secure throughout the year, with sufficient reserves exceeding 60 days. Source: Jordan News Agency