Karak, Aug 29 (Petra) -- An agreement to supply the Al-Qatrana Cement Plant with compressed natural gas (CNG) is a key step towards reducing emissions and enhancing energy efficiency in the industrial sector, said environmental experts and specialists.

They urged that the agreement be followed by a broader package of low-carbon policies and technologies.

They were commenting on the agreement signed by the National Advanced Natural Gas Company (Watani) with the Qatrana Cement Company, part of the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources' efforts to diversify energy sources, enhance security of supply, and support the industrial sector.

The Ministry is working to expand the natural gas network and improve energy efficiency, aiming to supply the plant with natural gas starting in 2027.

"The shift to natural gas is a positive step from three main perspectives; the first is economic, as it relies on a local, non-imported source, thus reducing costs and enhancing the added value to the national economy. The second involves enhancing energy security through relying on local resources, thus reducing the volatility of global markets. And the third is environmental, achieved through reducing carbon emissions compared to the use of heavy fuel oil and diesel," commented Duraid Mahasneh, Chairman of the Board of Directors for the EDAMA Association for Energy, Water, and Environment.

This trend could encourage other industrial sectors to switch to natural gas, he said, emphasizing the importance of integrating this move with the expansion of renewable energy, particularly in the transport and electricity generation sectors, to achieve a low-carbon development model.

Omar Shoshan, Chairman of the Environmental Societies Union, considered the shift from heavy fuel oil to natural gas "a strategic transitional step" for modernizing Jordanian industry and reducing its carbon footprint, in line with the Kingdom's commitments to combating climate change.

The industrial sector, he said, is a major source of emissions, making improving energy efficiency and transitioning to less carbon-intensive sources a key path to reducing them, alongside developing industrial technology.

He said the project contributes to improving the environmental performance of industrial zones and gives Jordanian products a competitive advantage in global markets, which have begun imposing strict standards related to carbon footprint.

Shoshan noted that sustainability has become a crucial factor in accessing markets and maintaining export share.

Zeina Hamdan, Executive Director of Awraq Foundation for Environmental Development, said the shift should be viewed within a broader context, adding that replacing heavy fuel oil with natural gas reduces combustion emissions by 27% to 30%, thus contributing to improved air quality.

She called for the adoption of parallel solutions, including renewable energy, increased production efficiency, and the use of alternative materials.

Natural gas should be viewed as a transitional fuel within a broader framework for transitioning to a low-carbon economy, she said, proposing linking industrial incentives to clear climate performance indicators, thereby enhancing the global competitiveness of Jordanian industry.

Hamdan pointed to international experiences, such as the Danish cement industry, which has adopted a gradual approach to reducing reliance on fossil fuels and expanding the use of alternative fuels and carbon capture technologies.

//Petra//SS