Amman -- Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources, Hala Zawati, on Monday said the sector has made many achievements over the past years as part of the vision of His Majesty King Abdullah II on energy as "the backbone of the economic process."

 

Zawati stressed the importance of the mining sector's role in enhancing the economy and its contribution to the gross domestic product to achieve energy supply security and optimal utilization of natural resources in line with Jordan's 2025 vision and the sector's obligations.

 

On the occasion of the Kingdom's 74th Independence Day, Zawati said: "We seek to increase these achievements in the future through plans centered on self-reliance to achieve energy security, increase dependence on local resources, reduce energy costs and boost sustainability, in addition to increasing investment in mineral reasouces."

 

On mineral resources, the minister stated that exports in 2019 accounted for 19.7 percent of Jordan's overall exports and 7.6 percent of the gross domestic product.

 

Zawati also pointed out that the oil sector has provided all oil derivatives through the supply chain, which includes the Jordan Petroleum Refinery, fuel marketing companies and stations across the Kingdom.

 

She pointed to the Jordanian-Iraqi memorandum of understanding in which Jordan purchases oil at an average of 10,000 barrels a day as part of an effort to diversify the sources of import.

 

Jordan ranked first on the Global Competitiveness Index and first of the Middle Eastern and North African countries on the Climate Scope 2019 report in the field of investment in renewable energy, Zawati added.