EMV outlines 12 initiatives for energy, water sectors

AMMAN — The Economic Modernisation Vision's executive programme has outlined 12 initiatives and 54 priorities for energy and water sectors at a value of JD688 million for the 2023-2025 period.

The initiatives include reviewing the fuel pricing mechanism, shifting towards smart grids, building electrical interconnection projects with neighbouring countries, prospecting for mineral resources, establishing the National Water Carrier Project and increasing the Kingdom’s strategic water reserves, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.

The clean energy transition initiative will focus on updating the mineral resources strategy, and will work on drawing a roadmap for the use and production of hydrogen, studying the transition towards electric transportation and completing economic feasibility studies for the green hydrogen and green ammonia production project.

To enhance energy efficiency, the initiatives will embrace policies to reduce the cost of the electrical system, such as time-dependent tariffs. In addition, solar heater systems will be installed in several public and military hospitals, municipalities and underprivileged households.

In an effort to reduce energy supply costs, a financial sustainability plan will be developed in line with the gradual shift towards smart grids, and will supply industrial cities with natural gas.

As for the energy infrastructure development initiative, implementing the Jordanian-Iraqi electricity interconnection project will be the project’s key focus, in addition to raising the electric capacity between Jordan and Egypt to 1100 megawatts and choosing the best model for the Jordanian-Saudi interconnection project. 

Also, the fourth expansion project of the Jordan Petroleum Refinery Company will be addressed, along with a project to connect cities and industrial areas to natural gas networks.

The initiatives will also address Jordan’s electricity linkage with neighbouring countries, developing the capacity of the Aqaba oil terminal, sealing an investment agreement for the liquefied petroleum gas storage project and considering the generating capacity of renewable energy and green energy.

In water sector, the initiatives will focus on implementing a water loss strategy to reduce losses by 2 per cent per year. 

The initiatives will also build distribution networks and dams, and will work on finding new sources of water in order to improve the water supply.

A plan for the financial sustainability of the water sector will also be implemented, which will include exposing violations on water pipelines and networks and monitoring groundwater resources.