Experts underline local resources to raise electrical power generation
Jordan Times
June 27, 2007
AMMAN (Petra) — Energy specialists reiterated on Thursday the need to rely on local energy resources to increase electrical power generation and reduce the country’s oil bill.
With higher oil prices at around $75 a barrel, the oil bill weighs heavily
on the state budget, already suffering a large deficit.
At a meeting organised by the Central Electricity Generating Company (CEGCO)
incooperation with the Jordan Engineers Association (JEA), participants
underlined the importance of examining and using local sources, especially
oil shale.
CEGCO Director Abdul Fattah Nsour explained how the burning of oil shale can
be used to generate electricity, noting that this is the most economical way.
“Around 73 per cent of the Kingdom’s electric power is generated through
the use of natural gas,” Nsour indicated.
Last year, the generated electricity grew by 15.2 per cent while the
electric peak load totalled 1901 megawatts, Nsour pointed out.
The availability rate last year was around 85 per cent, which is considered
good on the international level.
Nsour also pointed out that CEGCO has produced 81 per cent of the total
electrical consumption in the Kingdom while Al Samra electricity generation
plants and the private sector provided the remaining portion.
In 2006, the per capita average consumption totalled 2079 megawatts, the
CEGCO director said.
“This week, the electric peak load reached 1990 megawatts,” he added.
Addressing the attendance, JEA President Wael Saqa underlined the
importance of electric grid projects to serve the interests of the different parties
involved and boost regional cooperation.
Another speaker, Hussein Elian, a member of the JEA, drew attention to the
fact that the growth in electricity consumption in Jordan is so high that it is
around threefold that registered on the international level.