Karak, Aug 29 (Petra) — An agreement to supply the Al-Qatrana Cement
Plant with compressed natural gas (CNG) is a key step towards
reducing emissions and enhancing energy efficiency in the industrial
sector, said environmental experts and specialists.

They urged that the agreement be followed by a broader package of
low-carbon policies and technologies.

They were commenting on the agreement signed by the National Advanced
Natural Gas Company (Watani) with the Qatrana Cement Company, part
of the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources’ efforts to diversify
energy sources, enhance security of supply, and support the
industrial sector.

The Ministry is working to expand the natural gas network and improve
energy efficiency, aiming to supply the plant with natural gas
starting in 2027.

“The shift to natural gas is a positive step from three main
perspectives; the first is economic, as it relies on a local,
non-imported source, thus reducing costs and enhancing the added
value to the national economy. The second involves enhancing energy
security through relying on local resources, thus reducing the
volatility of global markets. And the third is environmental,
achieved through reducing carbon emissions compared to the use of
heavy fuel oil and diesel,” commented Duraid Mahasneh, Chairman of
the Board of Directors for the EDAMA Association for Energy, Water,
and Environment.

This trend could encourage other industrial sectors to switch to
natural gas, he said, emphasizing the importance of integrating this
move with the expansion of renewable energy, particularly in the
transport and electricity generation sectors, to achieve a low-carbon
development model.

Omar Shoshan, Chairman of the Environmental Societies Union,
considered the shift from heavy fuel oil to natural gas “a strategic
transitional step” for modernizing Jordanian industry and reducing
its carbon footprint, in line with the Kingdom’s commitments to
combating climate change.

The industrial sector, he said, is a major source of emissions,
making improving energy efficiency and transitioning to less
carbon-intensive sources a key path to reducing them, alongside
developing industrial technology.

He said the project contributes to improving the environmental
performance of industrial zones and gives Jordanian products a
competitive advantage in global markets, which have begun imposing
strict standards related to carbon footprint.

Shoshan noted that sustainability has become a crucial factor in
accessing markets and maintaining export share.

Zeina Hamdan, Executive Director of Awraq Foundation for
Environmental Development, said the shift should be viewed within a
broader context, adding that replacing heavy fuel oil with natural
gas reduces combustion emissions by 27% to 30%, thus contributing to
improved air quality.

She called for the adoption of parallel solutions, including
renewable energy, increased production efficiency, and the use of
alternative materials.

Natural gas should be viewed as a transitional fuel within a broader
framework for transitioning to a low-carbon economy, she said,
proposing linking industrial incentives to clear climate performance
indicators, thereby enhancing the global competitiveness of Jordanian
industry.

Hamdan pointed to international experiences, such as the Danish
cement industry, which has adopted a gradual approach to reducing
reliance on fossil fuels and expanding the use of alternative fuels
and carbon capture technologies.

//Petra//SS