Amman, April 29 (Petra) -- Jordan is moving ahead with energy projects aimed at diversifying supply sources, expanding the use of natural gas, developing the Risha gas field, and increasing the share of renewable energy to more than 30% of the electricity mix by 2030, Energy Minister Saleh Kharabsheh said Wednesday.
Kharabsheh made the remarks during a visit by the Lower House Energy and Mineral Resources Committee, chaired by MP Ayman Abu Hanieh, to the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources to review the state of the Kingdom’s energy sector and discuss related files.
The committee met with Kharabsheh, Ministry Secretary-General Amani Azzam, and other officials, who presented a detailed briefing on the sector and the pillars and objectives of the National Energy Strategy for 2025-2035.
Talking at the meeting, Kharabsheh urged cooperation between the ministry and Parliament, saying interagency integration serves the national interest.
He said the updated 2025-2035 energy strategy contains key projects in the Risha gas field, green hydrogen, and renewable energy, to diversify energy sources and increase reliance on domestic resources, particularly renewables, to more than 30% of the energy mix by 2030.
Kharabsheh said work is underway to drill 80 new wells in the Risha field, with production expected to rise to 418 million cubic feet per day by 2029, alongside a project to connect the field to the Arab Gas Pipeline.
He added that the ministry is expanding the use of natural gas, with gas networks in Amman and Zarqa expected to be ready by 2030. A large number of industries will also be converted to natural gas to lower costs and enhance competitiveness.
On renewable energy, Kharabsheh said renewables currently account for 27% of electricity generated, with plans to raise the share to more than 30% by 2030 and eventually to 50%, through projects under implementation, including power generation and energy storage facilities.
He said green hydrogen projects are expected to begin production by 2030 as part of efforts to advance sustainability in the energy sector.
Kharabsheh also said rationalizing energy consumption remains a priority, noting that the household sector consumes about 49% of electricity and that Jordan’s energy consumption rate is 25% higher than the global average. He said this requires strengthening a culture of conservation to improve energy efficiency and enhance energy security.
Abu Hanieh, in turn, commended the ministry’s efforts to develop the sector, saying they have helped strengthen energy supply security despite regional challenges, reduce costs, support investment, and stimulate economic growth.
He pointed to several issues of concern to citizens and the business sector, including lowering energy costs by expanding the delivery of natural gas to factories and companies, reviewing electricity tariff segments, following up on the development of the Risha gas field, and moving toward green hydrogen as a future energy source.
Abu Hanieh said cooperation with the ministry would continue on legislation related to the gas and electricity sectors, including the Abu Khsheiba Agreement, in support of the national economy.
MPs Jamal Qamoh, Saleh Abu Tayeh, and Rakeen Abu Hanieh said energy remains a "priority," stressing the need to cut electricity tariffs in some areas, expand the use of renewable energy, address electricity delivery to some residential communities, accelerate the development of the Risha field, and increase reliance on local energy sources.
//Petra// AO
