Amman, January 23 - The Senate Energy and Mineral Resources Committee, headed by Eng. Farouk Al-Hayari, met today, Thursday, with Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Dr. Saleh Al-Kharabsheh, and a number of concerned officials in the ministry.
Al-Hayari said that the energy file is of high national importance, due to its contributions to achieving national goals and economic growth, which requires continuing to maximize the exploitation of local energy sources, achieving self-reliance, and maintaining energy supply security, in line with the vision of economic modernization and the programs and projects emanating from it.
He explained that the meetings held by the committee periodically with the ministry in its constitutional and supervisory capacity fall within a specific time frame to follow up on the implementation of the ministry's strategic plan and the measures taken to address the losses of the National Electric Power Company, expand the exploitation of natural gas produced from the Risha gas field, increase the contribution of renewable energy to the total energy mix, and exploit natural resources.
For his part, Al-Kharabsheh said that the ministry's responsibilities include the comprehensive planning process for the sector, setting general policies, and ensuring their implementation in a way that achieves the general goals of the energy sector, indicating that the sector aims to provide energy in its various forms for comprehensive development and organizing its affairs, exchanging electricity with neighboring countries, and attracting global capital to invest in this field, especially in the field of generating electricity, producing petroleum derivatives, transporting oil and gas, and exploiting local energy sources.
He added that the ministry has a clear program with a specific time frame to address the losses of the National Electricity Company, expecting a positive change in the company's situation in the coming few years.
He stressed the continuation of intensifying work with the National Petroleum Company to develop the Risha gas field and increase its production, and expand the uses of natural gas in various sectors.
He said that the ministry will continue to increase the contribution of renewable energy to the total energy mix, and Jordan will have a role in the green hydrogen industry and attracting investments in this field.