Amman, Aug 10 (Petra) – The Cabinet on Sunday approved the 2025 Gas Bill, paving the way for its referral to the lower house of parliament for enactment under constitutional procedures.
The new legislation sets out a modern framework to regulate the gas and hydrogen derivatives sector and strengthen the country’s energy infrastructure. It covers a range of gases, including natural gas, biogas, biomethane and hydrogen, reflecting flexibility to align with the global shift toward clean energy.
The bill governs core gas activities import, transport, distribution, storage and wholesale and retail sales under an integrated system that allows shared or self-use of facilities. It seeks to enable large-scale and strategic economic projects, encourage investment through a clear regulatory environment and streamlined licensing, and promote expansion of transport, distribution and storage networks.
It sets mechanisms for calculating fees and gives licensees the freedom to sign investment and sales agreements in a transparent and competitive environment. The Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry would oversee competitive tenders or direct offers for shared infrastructure projects, with such facilities to be government-owned under a framework ensuring continuity of supply and investor rights.
The bill also mandates international operating standards, gas quality controls, and certification for green hydrogen, while reinforcing the Energy and Minerals Regulatory Commission’s role as an independent regulator with full oversight powers.
In related decisions, the Cabinet approved a regulation to establish an independent energy transmission system, self-generation plants and storage stations connected to that system, aiming to facilitate green hydrogen projects through a secure, renewables-based grid.
The regulation supports major economic projects, offers flexibility in renewable energy transmission, ensures separation from the national grid to maintain stability, and sets clear licensing, fee and investment terms to attract capital. It requires hydrogen production to meet global green hydrogen standards through traceability and compliance.
On tourism, the Cabinet endorsed regulations for a Tourism Sector Development and Support Fund and amendments to the Jordan Hotel Association and Jordan Restaurants Association bylaws to align board structures, fees and governance with sector classification rules, in line with amendments to the Tourism Law. The fund will support investment, innovation and crisis resilience in the sector and benefit local communities, women, youth and people with disabilities.
The Cabinet also approved proposed amendments to the 2025 smart transport applications regulation to encourage investment and competitiveness by licensing new companies, ensuring service quality, and updating provisions for operator licensing, service standards and compliance. The changes include unified financial guarantees of JD100,000 per company, mandatory integrated apps with e-payment and GPS, shorter vehicle age limits for licensing, comprehensive insurance, standard contracts, driver training, geographic coverage and measurable performance indicators.
The government further decided to distribute Interior Ministry-approved administrative boundary maps to all public entities to unify geographic data, support planning, and improve service delivery. The move follows detailed boundary demarcation for provinces, districts and sub-districts and aims to prevent unauthorized municipal expansion, unify security and judicial jurisdictions, and enable integrated geographic databases.
The Cabinet authorized Mutah University to use a 7,500-square-meter state-owned building in Karak to serve as a clinical facility for dental students.
The structure, built in 2013 and purchased by the Finance Ministry in 2016 but never completed, will be developed in three phases over 600 days at a cost exceeding JD7 million, financed by the university, local companies’ corporate social responsibility funds, and a BOT contract.
In addition, the Cabinet approved procedures to connect the new Madaba Hospital to the power grid at a cost of JD1.3 million. The facility, to be built in partnership with KBW, chaired by Prince Khaled bin Alwaleed, has a total project value of JD88 million.
//Petra// AF
10/08/2025 20:57:50
