Amman: Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources and Chairman of the Board of Directors of Jordan Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Fund (JREEEF), Dr. Saleh Kharabsheh, and Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Jordan Hotels Association (JHA), Osama Madanat, signed a cooperation agreement to implement a comprehensive energy efficiency and conservation program. The agreement aims to increase competitiveness of Jordan's hotels and the tourist sector by reducing operating costs, including energy costs.
According to Jordan News Agency, under the program, energy audits on Jordan's hotel establishments will be conducted and outcomes will be then implemented. Speaking at the signing ceremony, Kharabsheh stated the JREEEF is continuing its efforts to implement future projects in renewable energy and energy efficiency across various sectors, including residential, tourism, education, industrial, municipal, and hospital sectors. The minister added that the JREEEF is also implementing specialized training programs in renewable energy, contributing to achieving the Kingdom's energy and sustainable development goals.
Kharabsheh highlighted the opportunity for economic and service establishments in both public and private sectors to rationalize energy consumption. Studies by the JREEEF show that Jordan's energy intensity index is high, exceeding the global average by 20-25%. He emphasized that implementing energy conservation and efficiency measures should precede installation of renewable energy systems, as their costs are lower and the payback period does not exceed four years.
Osama Mdanat, JHA Vice Chairman, praised the JREEEF program to support the hotel sector, which will contribute to reducing energy costs for hotels, whose operations have been affected by regional events. Mdanat indicated that the JHA will cooperate with the JREEEF to reach all hotels and promote this program in all governorates. He added that energy audit studies will contribute to achieving efficiency and reducing energy costs for hotels, directly translating into providing better services to citizens.
JREEEF Executive Director, Rasmi Hamza, noted this agreement reflects the Fund's vision to expand its programs to include the tourism sector, a cornerstone of the national economy. The JREEEF will cover 100% of the energy audit costs, in addition to subsidizing bank interest and guaranteeing loans to cover the implementation of the study's recommendations and outcomes. Hamza highlighted the success of previous phases implemented in Petra and Aqaba, where savings in energy bills reached 40-60%, contributing to increasing competitiveness of these hotels and reducing their energy costs.