Jordan aims to lead region in green hydrogen exports — Gov’t

AMMAN — Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Saleh Kharabsheh said on Monday that Jordan is poised to become a regional hub for exporting green hydrogen. Speaking at the 12th Arab Energy Conference themed "Energy and Arab Cooperation", Kharabsheh said that in line with the global energy transition, Jordan has set a comprehensive roadmap to define policies and establish a regulatory framework that will attract investment in the production of green hydrogen. 

Jordan has signed 13 memorandums of understanding (MoUs) with international companies interested in carrying out the necessary studies to produce green hydrogen, he said, according to the Jordan News Agency, Petra.

Highlighting Jordan's significant potential in renewable energy, he underscored the Kingdom's strategic geographical location and the availability of skilled expertise.

The minister also called for enhanced Arab cooperation to position the Arab world as a prominent producer of green energy in all its forms, meeting both domestic needs and facilitating the export of surplus energy.

Kharabsheh highlighted the potential for economic integration within Arab countries, noting significant progress in the interconnection of electricity grids. 

He also reviewed Jordan's energy journey, addressing past challenges such as heavy reliance on energy imports and lack of diversification of energy sources. 

He added that Jordan has committed to importing crude oil and petroleum products from a variety of sources, while at the same time developed the renewable energy sector, and introduced legislative and regulatory improvements to capitalise on its renewable energy sources.

Highlighting Jordan's achievements in renewable energy, Kharabsheh noted that the country has become a focal point for major Arab and global companies investing in renewable energy projects. 

Jordan's interconnected electricity grids currently boasting 2,600 megawatts of renewable energy systems, contributing to 27 per cent of total electricity production in 2022. Kharabsheh projected that renewable energy will surpass  30 per cent of electricity consumption by 2030, according to the ongoing update of the energy sector strategy.