Jordan has limited domestic fossil fuel sources and most
of its energy needs are satisfied by imports. Jordan’s native energy resources
are its modest gas reserves, oil shale deposits and tar sands, and its growing
economy has been severely strained by the fact that it currently imports almost
95 percent of its energy needs.
Also the demand for energy increases with Jordan’s
growing population, economic development and urbanization. Jordan’s energy
needs are met almost entirely by imported oil and gas. Since 2008, rising world
energy costs and shrinking government subsidies have placed a heavier
burden on institutions, industries and household consumers. Harnessing
renewable solar and wind energy promises to reduce Jordan’s vulnerability to
external supply and price and shocks indefinitely.
Jordan's economy has been facing many
energy crises through many years now, especially this year, oil prices continue
to rise and gas imports from Egypt continue to reduce, creating a situation
that requires a return to subsidized fuel prices. The current energy
problem in Jordan comes from two directions:
- The first is
high crude oil prices along with stopping the policy of liberalizing prices for
basic petroleum products in Jordan, namely gasoline, diesel, kerosene and
cooking gas.
- The second is
the frequent interruption and scarcity in the supply of Egyptian natural gas
for generating 80% of electricity needs. This necessitated generating power
with heavy fuel oil and diesel to meet demand, and these derivatives are very
expensive.
It is time that we realize that Jordan tops in renewable
energy, in Jordan the sun always shins, and the wind always blows, there are
many good reasons to depend on renewable energy sources. If we capture the
energy in sunshine and wind, we can use it to heat our homes and run our cars,
computers and TVs. Renewable energy is abundant in Jordan, when each new day
dawns, it brings with it a fresh supply of renewable energy that will not stop.
That is why we believe that the country needs to
shift from its current status of an energy-dependent state to an
energy-efficient one by embracing the renewable energy sector, and J-ERA Center
is a great step towards that goal, as building the organizational,
strategic and human capacities of the National Center for Research and
Development (NCRD) will enable it to actively participate in European S&T
partnerships and execute large-scale projects in the key area of renewable
energy, with a view to creating a centre of excellence within Jordan and
actively promoting further dissemination and replication in the region. The
J-ERA Center project will help us achieve the energy goals we had long ago set
out for ourselves.