Aqaba, April 14 (Petra) -- The Aqaba Special Economic Zone Authority (ASEZA) on Tuesday held a consultative workshop on a flagship renewable ammonia plant, a key project supporting the Kingdom’s transition toward a green economy.

In a statement, the ASEZA said the project represents a cornerstone of Jordan’s green transformation efforts. The integrated facility will include a 550-megawatt solar power plant in Wadi Araba, an energy storage system to ensure continuous operations, a desalination unit, electrolysis facilities for hydrogen production, and a liquid ammonia manufacturing plant in Aqaba’s southern industrial zone.

The workshop brought together representatives of government entities, stakeholders, and members of the local community to review implementation frameworks and assess potential environmental and social impacts. Discussions covered biodiversity and marine ecosystems, cultural and social heritage considerations, environmental monitoring and compliance, as well as the need for additional technical studies. Participants also examined mechanisms to strengthen community engagement throughout the project’s lifecycle.

Commissioner for Environment and Public Safety at the ASEZA, Nedal Ouran, said the project underpins the Kingdom’s shift toward clean energy and aligns with Royal directives, the national energy strategy, and the Economic Modernization Vision. He noted that it is expected to advance decarbonization efforts and bolster green energy security.

Ouran added that the project signals a transition toward sustainable fuels, with planned annual production of approximately 120,000 tons of green ammonia, supporting Jordan’s climate commitments and efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Director of the Environment Protection and Sustainability Directorate at ASEZA, Taghreed Maaytah, said the consultative session marked a key step in developing the Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA). She said the discussions focused on setting the terms of reference for the consulting firm, Dar al-Handasah, to ensure the study complies with national regulations and international best practices, while reinforcing stakeholder engagement.

//Petra// AJ