Amman, Aug. 20 (Petra) – Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Saleh Kharabsheh on Wednesday inaugurated the Kingdom’s first independent compressed natural gas (CNG) filling station for buses, trucks, and vehicles, operating with gas produced from the Risha field.
The station, affiliated with the National Advanced Natural Gas Company (Watani) a partnership between Jopetrol and the Jordan Liquefied Gas Company (JLG) has a capacity of 1,500 liters. It is equipped with two pumps that can fill vehicles at a pressure of 250 bars within 7 to 11 minutes for large vehicles. The facility is also fitted with an advanced safety system to ensure secure operations.
Kharabsheh underlined the ministry’s commitment to expanding the use of natural gas and fostering an investment-friendly environment for the sector, in line with the Economic Modernization Vision and national plans to diversify energy sources.
He said the ministry is advancing efforts to deliver natural gas to the Rawda Industrial Area in Ma’an, the Muwaqqar Industrial Area, the Mafraq Development Area, and various industrial clusters. He also detailed government plans to supply Amman and Zarqa with natural gas for residential, commercial, and healthcare facilities.
The minister highlighted the Jordan National Petroleum Company’s plan to raise production from the Risha field to 418 million cubic feet by 2030 as part of a broader development strategy that includes constructing a 320-kilometer pipeline linking the Risha field to the Khanasri area and connecting it to the Arab Gas Pipeline. This project will enable the distribution of Risha gas to industrial zones and power plants across the Kingdom.
He stressed that these projects will expand the use of domestic natural gas, lower energy costs across sectors, and support the Economic Modernization Vision by generating up to one million jobs and achieving a growth rate of 5.6 percent.
For his part, Khaled Zoubi, General Manager of the Petroleum Products Marketing Company (Jopetrol/Watani), underscored the significance of the partnership between Jopetrol and Jordan Gas in strengthening energy security, reflecting the vision of His Majesty King Abdullah II. He said such projects contribute to the national economy and advance sustainable development.
Zoubi added that the opening of the station represents a key milestone in Watani’s strategy to establish an integrated network of natural gas stations nationwide, providing cost-effective energy options to individuals and businesses.
Watani representatives noted that natural gas offers a 50 percent reduction in vehicle energy costs compared to gasoline and diesel, with one cubic meter of gas equivalent to one liter of diesel, sold at 0.28 piasters. Depending on cylinder size, vehicles can travel 2 kilometers per cubic meter of gas, with large vehicles covering up to 600 kilometers and smaller vehicles up to 750 kilometers.
They further announced that Watani is in negotiations with three international companies to supply specialized kits for converting gasoline and diesel vehicles to natural gas. The company has also purchased its first tanker fully powered by compressed natural gas, reflecting its commitment to clean energy transition.
//Petra// AJ
20/08/2025 16:29:07
