\Prime Minister Dr. Jafar Hassan today inaugurated two natural gas supply stations in Al Quweira Industrial City and Aqaba’s Southern Industrial Zone, and laid the foundation stone for the construction of a shore-based regasification unit as part of the development of the Sheikh Sabah Al Ahmad Al Jaber Al Sabah LNG Port. The projects form part of an integrated government strategy to strengthen energy security, support national industry, reduce production costs, and attract further investment, in line with the objectives of the Economic Modernisation Vision.
The Prime Minister affirmed that the government is moving ahead with strategic projects aimed at strengthening the competitiveness of the national economy and creating a more attractive investment environment by developing energy infrastructure and providing safe and sustainable energy sources to industrial zones and cities across the Kingdom.
In Al Quweira Industrial City, the Prime Minister inaugurated the natural gas station, constructed at a cost of approximately JD 8 million, with an initial operating capacity of 30,000 cubic metres per day, expandable to 90,000 cubic metres per day. The project is part of a government plan to reduce energy costs for industrial cities and clusters by between 35% and 60%.
The station forms part of a broader package of government measures aimed at supporting the industrial sector, enhancing its competitiveness, enabling expansion, and creating new investment opportunities in Jordan.
The Prime Minister also reviewed progress at Al Quweira Industrial City, which is being developed across 1,800 dunums under a joint development agreement between the Aqaba Special Economic Zone Authority, Aqaba Development Corporation, and PBI. Development began in 2023, with first-phase infrastructure works completed across more than 300 dunums.
The first phase also includes a metering and pressure-reduction station connected to the Arab Gas Pipeline and the natural gas network, with a capacity exceeding 90,000 cubic metres per hour. Infrastructure works for the phase have reached approximately JD 25 million in value.
In Aqaba’s Southern Industrial Zone, the Prime Minister inaugurated a natural gas supply station serving factories. The station was completed in approximately 10 months at a cost of JD 3.5 million, following the laying of its foundation stone in September last year. The project was completed significantly ahead of its estimated 18-month implementation period.
Hassan stressed that supplying natural gas to industrial cities and zones is a strategic initiative aimed at supporting national industry, strengthening the competitiveness of the national economy, attracting investment, increasing exports, promoting environmental sustainability, and contributing to economic growth and job creation.
He noted that the natural gas stations in Al Quweira Industrial City and the Southern Industrial Zone will provide Aqaba’s factories with a clean and sustainable energy source, helping reduce production costs, enhance the competitiveness of national industries, support their expansion, and attract further investment.
During the visit, the Prime Minister also laid the foundation stone for the shore-based regasification unit, with an estimated cost of JD 90 million, as part of the development of the Sheikh Sabah Al Ahmad Al Jaber Al Sabah LNG Port. The facility is scheduled to open in the middle of next year, with a capacity of up to 700 million cubic feet per day.
Hassan said the project represents a strategic option for strengthening energy supply security and replacing the floating vessel, while diversifying energy sources and supply options, increasing strategic reserves, and developing Jordan’s energy infrastructure.
The project will also enable Jordan to work with a wide range of LNG suppliers from around the world, enhancing the flexibility and resilience of the supply system. In parallel, LNG imports will continue to support electricity generation and meet the needs of the industrial sector, helping reduce the operating costs of the LNG port for the National Electric Power Company.
As part of his tour of Aqaba, the Prime Minister visited the Aqaba Marine Reserve following its inscription on the UNESCO World Heritage List. He commended the national efforts that contributed to this achievement and stressed the importance of building on it to strengthen Aqaba’s position as a tourism, environmental, and economic destination at both the regional and international levels.
He noted that the reserve’s inscription reflects its unique marine biodiversity and global importance in protecting marine ecosystems and coral reefs. The reserve is home to more than 150 coral species, over 500 fish species, and around 1,000 rare and endangered marine species, making it one of the region’s and the world’s most diverse marine environments.
Concluding his tour, the Prime Minister affirmed that these projects and achievements reflect the government’s approach to implementing strategic and development projects that strengthen energy security, support national industry, protect environmental resources, enhance the competitiveness of the national economy, and advance sustainable development while creating more employment and investment opportunities across the Kingdom.
