Jordan to import liquefied natural gas from Algeria

AMMAN — Algeria is expected to start providing Jordan with liquefied natural gas (LNG) and liquefied petroleum gas as of September this year, Algerian Energy Minister Salah Khebri said Monday.

“Today, we signed a memorandum of understanding with Jordan and negotiations will continue in the upcoming weeks between the National Electric Power Company and Algeria’s Sonatrach to decide prices and quantities,” the minister told The Jordan Times on the sidelines of the Jordan International Energy Summit, which attracted over 400 energy experts and officials from several countries.

The volume of quantities sent to Jordan will increase gradually as of 2017, the minister said.

Asked if prices will be at a preferential rate, he said: “We as politicians will do our best in this regard.”

“This will be the first agreement between Jordan and Algeria in this regard,” said Khebri.

The Algerian official added that Algeria’s Sonatrach will also cooperate with Jordan in the field of oil and gas exploration in the Kingdom.

The minister said Algeria, which is a member of the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries, believes there is a need to freeze oil output as prices are deteriorating and there is oversupply. 

Energy officials and experts in Jordan stressed the importance of the deal with Algeria, which they said falls in line with Jordan’s strategy to diversify its resources of gas.

Around 85 per cent of the Kingdom’s electricity is currently generated via imported LNG.

Jordan imports about 97 per cent of its energy needs annually.