PM meets with Egyptian Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources

AMMAN — Prime Minister and Minister of Defence Bisher Al Khasawneh and Egyptian Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources Tarek Al Molla on Thursday highlighted the “deep-rooted historical and strategic” relations between Jordan and Egypt, describing them as “distinguished” in all fields.

Khasawneh pointed out that the Amman-Cairo ties constitute "a model for joint cooperation", the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported. 

Khasawneh, in the presence of Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Hala Zawati and Egyptian Ambassador to Jordan Sherif Kamel also affirmed “the political will” to develop the Jordanian-Egyptian relations and partnerships thanks to the attention paid by His Majesty King Abdullah and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El Sisi.

The premier expressed Jordan's appreciation of the cooperation from the Egyptian side in the energy field, which represents a "true" reflection of the “brotherly relations”.

Khasawneh listened to a briefing from Zawati and Molla on their talks held in Amman over the past two days, which were concluded by signing two appendices to contracts for supplying natural gas and operating expansions of the natural gas network in Jordan.

Molla, who conveyed Egyptian Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly's greetings to Khasawneh, reiterated Cairo's interest to strengthen the existing cooperation with Jordan in the energy field to serve joint interests.

Also on Thursday, Zawati and Molla held a separate meeting that focused on bilateral cooperation in the fields of oil, gas and mineral resources, and reviewed the available opportunities to expand cooperation prospects and exchange expertise in a way that serves joint interests, according to Petra.

The two ministers agreed for the Egyptian petroleum sector to train Jordanian personnel in the oil and natural gas fields and provide various aspects of support.

In the presence of the two ministers, Chairman of National Electric Power Company (NEPCO) Amjad Rawashdeh and President of the Egyptian Natural Gas Holding Company (EGAS) Magdy Galal signed two appendices to contracts for supplying natural gas, and operating expansions of the natural gas network in Jordan, carried out by the Jordanian Egyptian FAJR for Natural Gas Transmission and Supply Co. Ltd.

Describing cooperation between Jordan and Egypt in the gas fields as "a model for joint relations", Zawati stressed the importance of expanding aspects of this cooperation to achieve best economic benefits and integration between the two countries.

The Egyptian minister praised the cooperation in the gas field, which constitutes "an important economic source" for the two countries.

Molla's visit to Jordan comes within the framework of continuous coordination to enhance and support the strategic Egyptian-Jordanian ties in the gas and oil areas, review existing joint projects in the gas field and maintain consultations on new cooperation fields to achieve mutual benefits, Petra added.