Power grid load factor a major challenge — Kharabsheh

AMMAN — The Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Saleh Kharabsheh said that the biggest challenge the energy sector faces, mainly electricity, is the big difference between the minor and major peaks.

The minister’s remarks came during the first meeting of the National Economic Workshop on Saturday at the Royal Hashemite Court, as experts, sector representatives and officials attended the discussion.

“If the entire electrical system is at  full capacity, we will produce twice as much electricity as we need, which is why we must plan for how to reduce the major peak and increase the minor peak so that the volume of energy is not constant, which needs certain tools,” he said.

He noted that the sector is expecting support from the World Bank in that regard.

The minister said that Jordan has a high “energy intensity” of 25 to 30 per cent above average, which is one of the issues the new strategy will work on based on a real study.

“We must have a well-studied baseline to be able to set a strategy which will solve such issues, and this time we will be doing it differently,” Kharabsheh added.

Amjad Al Rawashdeh, general manager of the National Electric Power Company (NEPCO), said that NEPCO’s electrical system plan takes many factors into account to determine the system’s need to generate electricity, such as population growth and economic growth rates, and the strategies of other sectors such as water, transport and others.

Rawashdeh emphasised the importance of such data as it helps NEPCO to determine the amount of electricity needed, as well as the optimal technology required to cover the needed volume of electricity.

He emphasised on raising the utilisation of the electrical system by decreasing the higher load and raising the minimum load in order to achieve optimum utilisation of power stations in the Kingdom.

During the discussion, officials and experts highlighted the importance of His Majesty’s vision, especially for the energy sector, as the new strategy must focus on improving the quality of energy and most importantly the sector’s work especially during crises.

The discussion called on the government to improve response to citizens’ expectations and demands, as well as encouraging partnership with the private sector.