Amman, June 23 (Petra) – Eastern Amman Investors Industrial
Association (EAIIA), in cooperation with the Jordan Renewable Energy
and Energy Efficiency Fund (JREEEF), held a dialogue session, themed:
“Increasing Competitiveness of Jordanian Industry by Enhancing Energy
Efficiency Programs in the Industrial Sector.”

The event tackled the current situation and opportunities for
reducing energy costs in industrial facilities across the Kingdom.

During the session, held at the EAIIA’s headquarters, its Chairman,
Dr. Iyad Abu Haltam, said energy efficiency is a “key” pillar that
precedes renewable energy systems in achieving optimal operational
efficiency and significantly reducing capital investment costs by
addressing waste first.

According to an EAIIA statement issued on Tuesday, Dr. Abu Haltam,
during the session attended by industrialists and experts, called for
a roundtable dialogue to bring together representatives of the
industrial sector and relevant stakeholders to discuss procedural
challenges and find joint solutions that benefit both parties.

In turn, JREEEF CEO, Dr. Rasmi Hamzeh, said the Fund has provided
grants exceeding JD1.3 million to cover the costs of audit studies
for 187 factories, achieving savings in their annual energy bills
ranging between 40-60%.

Hamzeh added that limits on electrical capacity undergo strict
technical and engineering guidelines governed by the instructions of
the Energy and Minerals Regulatory Commission to maintain the
stability of the national grid.

He noted the government’s crucial alternatives, mainly the
“time-based tariff” and the special tariff for the industrial sector,
which have contributed to cutting energy costs by 20% for several
factories that have “successfully” managed their consumption outside
of peak hours.

As for the next meeting, he announced the JREEEF Steering Committee
will discuss possibility of creating flexible exceptions to the grant
conditions based on production volume to cover a wider range of
facilities, particularly in the stone and marble sector and automated
factories.

Additionally, the Fund presented a package of available financing
solutions to the Kingdom’s industrial sector, which cover interest
and profits on bank loans for projects up to a ceiling of JD350,000,
with the provision of full grants for energy audit studies.

//Petra// AG