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AMMAN — Prime Minister Jafar Hassan on Sunday visited Aqaba, where he toured the Aqaba Marine Reserve following its inscription on UNESCO's World Heritage List, inaugurated two natural gas stations, and laid the foundation stone for a new onshore regasification unit.
During his visit to the Aqaba Marine Reserve, Hassan hailed UNESCO's decision to include the site on the World Heritage List, describing it as a national achievement that should be leveraged to strengthen Aqaba's tourism, environmental, and economic position, according to a Prime Ministry statement.
The reserve was inscribed in recognition of its exceptional marine biodiversity and its role in protecting marine ecosystems and coral reefs. It is home to more than 150 coral species, 500 fish species, and nearly 1,000 rare and threatened species, making it one of the world's most biodiverse marine areas, the statement said.
The World Heritage Committee approved the listing during its 48th session in Busan, South Korea.
Hassan also inaugurated a natural gas station in Quweira Industrial City, built at a cost of JD8 million with an initial capacity of 30,000 cubic metres per day, expandable to 90,000 cubic metres.
The station forms part of the government's strategy to reduce energy costs in industrial cities by between 35 and 60 per cent. Phase one of the Quweira Industrial City project, covering more than 300 dunums, included infrastructure works and a pressure reduction and metering station connected to the Arab Gas Pipeline at a cost of JD25 million, according to the statement.
The prime minister also inaugurated a second natural gas station in Aqaba's Southern Industrial Zone. Completed in nearly 10 months at a cost of JD3.5 million, the facility is intended to lower energy costs and support national industries.
The two stations are expected to supply factories in Aqaba with cleaner and more sustainable energy, helping reduce production costs, improve industrial competitiveness, and attract investment in line with the Economic Modernisation Vision.
Hassan also laid the foundation stone for an onshore regasification unit at the Sheikh Sabah Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) Terminal. The project, valued at nearly JD90 million, is scheduled for completion by mid-2027 and will have a capacity of up to 700 million cubic feet per day.
The facility will serve as a strategic alternative to the existing Floating Storage and Regasification Unit (FSRU), strengthening Jordan's energy security by diversifying supply sources, expanding storage capacity, and reducing operating costs for the National Electric Power Company, the statement said.
