His Majesty King Abdullah on Thursday urged concerned parties to find feasible solutions to improve the efficiency and provision of the country's energy needs.



Chairing a meeting of the Infrastructure Subcommittee functioning under the National Agenda Committee, the King said the increasing price of oil on the world market underscored the need for a comprehensive energy strategy. He told subcommittee members that such a strategy should define the best ways to provide high-quality energy at a low cost. It should also enhance the competitiveness of the national economy and improve living standards, the King said.



Last week, King Abdullah sent a letter to Prime Minister Adnan Badran directing him to set up a taskforce under the Infrastructure Subcommittee to work on a plan to improve energy consumption efficiency and identify new sources of energy.



Head of the National Agenda's Infrastructure Subcommitee Naser Lawzi briefed King Abdullah on the work of the energy taskforce “whose recommendations will be clear during the next month.”



Speaking to the Jordan News Agency, Petra, on Thursday, Secretary General of the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources Khaldoun Qteishat said that Jordan's energy bill is expected to jump to $2 billion in 2005.



He said the government is currently engaged in feasibility studies to increase the use of natural gas in all service sectors instead of relying only on oil.



By the end of this year, two major electricity plants, Rihab and Khirbet Al Samra, will switch from the use of oil to the use of natural gas. The two facilities, along with the Aqaba Thermal Plant, provide 75 per cent of the country's electricity needs.



The official also referred to a current pilot project in Aqaba to modify car engines to use natural gas. The government is also looking to accelerate plans for oil and oil shale exploration, he said.

The Jordan Times