National programme to reduce energy costs underway — Kharabsheh

AMMAN — A national programme meant to reducing energy costs for economic sectors is in the pipeline, Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Saleh Kharabsheh said on Wednesday. 

Kharabsheh, who is also chairman of the Jordan Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Fund (JREEEF), said that the national programme seeks to enhance development opportunities through supporting the economic sectors, according to a statement made available to The Jordan Times.

During a JREEEF’s board of directors meeting, where the fund's action plan for 2022 was approved, Kharabsheh highlighted the importance of the fund’s efforts towards the revitalisation of green economy, noting that the total cost of such projects during the last 10 years reached some JD100 million.  

CEO of JREEEF Rasmi Hamzeh reviewed the fund’s achievements and main programmes in 2021, including the installation of 31,000 solar heaters and 7,000 solar panels for households, in addition to the distribution of 200,000 energy-efficient lighting units.

The JREEEF in 2021 also provided 157 schools, 650 places of worship (mosques and churches) and 121 small farms with energy efficient and renewable energy systems.

The fund also completed the energy rationalisation programme for Petra hotels and the launch of the municipal renewable energy programme, which included 30 municipalities in its first phase.  

The fund also installed energy efficient and renewable energy systems for 25 health centres, and included 16 social institutions in renewable energy programmes, among other achievements.  

Talks during the meeting also went over the fund's 2022 plan with a budget of JD22 million that covers all sectors: domestic, industrial, agricultural, tourism, places of worship, schools, health centres and municipalities, as well as energy audit and public awareness programmes.