Amman, April 16 (Petra) -- Jordan’s planned railway linking phosphate and potash mines to the Aqaba Port represents a strategic shift in the Kingdom's transport and logistics sector, Minister of Government Communication Mohammad Al-Momani said.

Al-Momani said the 360-kilometer project is being developed through an equal investment partnership between the UAE-based L’IMAD Holding Company and Jordanian entities, including the Jordan Phosphate Mines Company, the Arab Potash Company, the Government Investments Management Company, and the Social Security Investment Fund.

He said the railway will serve as a foundation for broader expansion plans aimed at linking Jordan to regional and international markets, including Syria, Turkey, the Mediterranean, and Europe.

Financial close is expected in early 2027, followed by a construction phase of around five years, given the scale of infrastructure required, including bridges and tunnels.

Al-Momani said the project will reduce the cost of transporting raw materials, improving their global competitiveness while increasing corporate returns and government revenues.

He added that the project will attract around $2.3 billion in direct investment, supporting economic growth, creating jobs, and providing opportunities for local companies involved in infrastructure works, in addition to offering environmental benefits compared with conventional transport.

The minister said the railway will complement the trucking sector rather than replace it, noting that measures have been introduced to support the industry, including sales tax exemptions for fleet modernization.

He added that plans are underway to establish a railway link to the Ma’an Development Area, alongside studies for a dry port project aimed at positioning the area as an industrial and logistics hub.

Most of the railway route will pass through state-owned land, while private land will be addressed through compensation or land swaps, he said.

Al-Momani said the railway is part of a broader portfolio of major projects, including the National Carrier and initiatives in the health and education sectors.

//Petra// RZ