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Al-Kharabsheh: The project is in line with the recommendations of the Economic Modernization Vision and the vision's executive program to achieve economic development

Al-Kharabsheh: 3 million cubic feet per day of natural gas from the Risha field to generate 10 megawatts for the chlorine factory

Al-Kharabsheh: We are working on preparing a law to regulate work related to natural gas

October 3, 2024
The Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources, Dr. Saleh Al-Kharabsheh, sponsored today, Thursday, the opening of the first project of its kind in the Kingdom to generate electricity for the National Chlorine Company factory in Muwaqqar, using compressed natural gas produced from the Risha field affiliated with the National Petroleum Company, where the process of transporting natural gas from the Risha station to the factory site in the city of Muwaqqar is carried out by trucks.
During the opening, Al-Kharabsheh stressed the importance of the power plant, which consumes 3 million cubic feet of natural gas per day to generate 10 megawatts of the factory’s needs, noting that the Risha field produces 40 million cubic feet of natural gas, adding, “We seek, based on these quantities, to supply the industrial cities in Rawda, Muwaqqar, Quweira, Mafraq, Qastal, and Hashimiya with natural gas,” pointing to the efforts of the National Petroleum Company to develop the field by increasing its production to reach 50 million cubic feet in 2025 and 200 million cubic feet in 2030. 
Al-Kharabsheh pointed out that generating electricity from natural gas has positive effects on the industrial sector due to its low cost by 35% compared to diesel and more than 50% compared to heavy fuel.
In addition, the project is considered one of three projects to produce compressed natural gas expected in the Risha area to reduce the operating costs of industries that depend on natural gas by 25–50%, will have a direct impact on the industrial sector, and will increase its competitiveness due to the decrease in costs. In parallel, this will improve the revenues of the National Petroleum Company and enable it to expand its programs and projects to increase the production capacity of the field, as the company finances its work and projects independently from its revenues from gas sales.
Al-Kharabsheh added that these projects are in line with the recommendations of the Economic Modernization Vision and the executive program of the vision, which is based on two pillars, one of which is to unleash full potential to provide more than 10,000 job opportunities and achieve economic growth of 5.6% by 2030 during the time period for implementing the vision, stressing that the ministry is working on preparing a law to regulate work related to natural gas in the Kingdom.

He pointed out that the industrial sector is a key lever for achieving economic development and achieving the growth rates indicated by the Economic Modernization Vision, is also an important driver for the national economy, and plays a fundamental role in addressing and alleviating the burdens of unemployment.

For his part, the Director General of the National Petroleum Company spoke about the company's plans to increase production of Risha gas to benefit the industrial sector and the citizen, describing the project as an initiative to achieve industrial security by reducing operating costs by relying on a local and low-cost source.

In the same context, the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the National Chlorine Industry Company, Khalil Abu Al-Rub, stressed the company's interest in seeking to rely on clean energy, pointing out the importance of expanding the use of natural gas in various sectors in the future due to its feasibility in reducing approximately 70% of production costs.

The Director General of the Jordan Gas Company, Salah Al-Khaza'leh, appreciated the keenness of the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources and partners in the sector to enable the company to establish an important and new facility for exploiting natural gas and supporting investment in it to ensure the continuity of wholesale and retail supply.

He pointed out the importance of the electricity generation project based on natural gas in the chlorine plant for its role in achieving economic and environmental security by using a local source that is less expensive and less polluting to the environment.

The Chairman of the Energy and Minerals Regulatory Commission, Eng. Ziad Al-Sa'aideh, in turn, described the first project of its kind in the Muwaqqar area as an opportunity to enhance the status of the region and the industrial sector, stressing the Commission's keenness to provide the necessary facilities to establish such projects.

Al-Kharabsheh and the attendees toured the station's facilities to see its readiness and the supply and operation process based on natural gas.

It is worth noting that the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources has included, since March 2023, through the Petroleum Derivatives Pricing Committee, the selling price of compressed and liquefied natural gas to the final consumer in the monthly bulletin of petroleum derivatives, in addition to the value of the commission for companies interested in this activity.