King calls for Arab partnerships in energy projects

AMMAN — His Majesty King Abdullah on Sunday stressed the importance of establishing pan-Arab partnerships in energy projects in a way that achieves integration in this "vital sector".

Speaking at a meeting with Iraqi Oil Minister Adel Abdel Mahdi and Egyptian Petroleum and Mineral Resources Minister Tarek El Molla, the King expressed Jordan's aspirations to complete the Jordanian-Iraqi oil pipeline projected to extend from Basra to Aqaba before reaching the Egyptian coast, according to a Royal Court statement.

King Abdullah also called for benefiting from Jordan's location as a strategic centre and corridor for energy in the region and from mega-projects the Kingdom adopts in the renewable energy and gas sectors.

In this context, he highlighted the significance of such schemes in connecting the interests of Arab countries and peoples and alleviating the challenges Arabs face in the energy sector, which is associated with other vital economic sectors, the statement added.

Discussions at the meeting, which took place at Al Husseiniya Palace, also covered the growing need to implement connecting projects in the energy sector, with Jordan being considered a pioneer and advanced country in this field within the region.

The Kingdom implemented connection projects in the electricity and renewable energy sectors, in addition to the liquefied gas terminal in Aqaba and other ventures through regional partnerships, according to the statement.

His Majesty also listened to a briefing on the oil pipeline project and future plans to complete it.

Royal Court Chief Fayez Tarawneh, King’s Office Director Jafar Hassan and Energy Minister Ibrahim Saif attended the meeting.

In March 2014, the governments of Jordan, Iraq and Egypt signed a joint cooperation protocol in the energy field, which included connecting Iraq with the Arab Gas Pipeline extending between Jordan and Egypt to benefit from the surplus of Iraqi gas, the statement said.

The protocol also entails installing a pipeline to transfer crude oil from Iraq through Jordan to reach Aqaba so as to use the surplus of Iraqi oil in meeting the Kingdom’s needs, with a future plan to extend the pipeline to reach Egypt.