The Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources and Chairman of the Board of the Jordan Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Fund (JREEEF), Dr. Saleh Kharabsheh, signed agreements for the “Energy Efficiency” project in Aqaba with eight hotels rated three stars or below. The agreements aim to provide direct financial support covering 50% of project
costs.During the signing ceremony, Dr. Kharabsheh explained that the ministry would contribute 25% of this support, with an equal contribution from the Aqaba Special Economic Zone Authority (ASEZA). He added that the project promotes theimplementation of energy efficiency practices in Aqaba’s hotels through an energy performance ontracting model, with an investment totaling 700,000 Jordanian Dinars, which is expected to positively impact the tourism sector. The agreements are projected to save approximately 891 megawatt-hours of energy annually, resulting in a financial saving of around 70,000 Jordanian Dinars each year. This boost in efficiency will enhance the competitiveness of these hotels and contribute to job creation. Dr. Kharabsheh emphasized that the project is designed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 351 tons of CO2 equivalent, aligning with the ministry’s aspirations and Jordan’s international environmental commitments.
Hamza Al-Haj Hassan, ASEZA’s Deputy Chairman and Commissioner for Economic and Tourism Affairs, highlighted that ASEZA’s strategy aligns with the objectives of the Energy
Efficiency project. He praised the role of project partners in reducing energy costs for Aqaba’s tourism and hotel establishments. He further affirmed ASEZA’s support and commitment to implementing the project, which will contribute to sustainable development, job creation, and improved hotel services for visitors. ASEZA’s strategic aim is to increase hotel room availability to accommodate a larger number of tourists, alongside developing the tourism, economic, and infrastructure sectors. CEO of the JREEEF, Rasmi Hamzeh, noted that the fund is conducting energy audits, funded by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), to identify and implement optimal energy-saving solutions. He added that JREEEF’s programs extend beyond the tourism sector to include the industrial and other vital sectors, with the goal of reducing energy costs, thereby enhancing the economic performance of the targeted sectors. The signing ceremony was attended by Aqaba’s Governor,Khaled Al-Hajajj, UNDP Resident Representative, Randa Abu Al-Hassan, and several government officials from Aqaba.
