Khaberni - The Executive Director of the Energy Encouragement Fund and Consumption Rationalization at the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources, Dr. Rasmi Hamza, confirmed that the total beneficiaries of the fund's programs exceeded 460,000 citizens, while the volume of direct investments reached about 40 million dinars, and the total value of the fund's projects exceeded 100 million dinars.
During a dialogue session titled "The Economic and Social Impact of Renewable Energy Fund Programs on Economic Development," held by the Jordan Economic Forum with the attendance of the Forum's chairman, Mazen Al-Hamoud, and several board members and the general body, Hamza noted that the fund, which was established in 2014 with an initial government capital of 25 million dinars, now leads the energy transition in Jordan through programs targeting homes and economic sectors, confirming that the achievements so far have directly reflected on the lives of hundreds of thousands of families and reduced the energy bill in vital sectors such as industry.
According to the Forum’s statement today, Saturday, Hamza explained that since its establishment, the fund focused on three main pillars: achieving a direct economic and social impact on citizens, contributing to reducing the cost of the national energy bill, and enhancing the competitiveness of productive economic sectors.
He mentioned that Jordan started its first major solar power station with a capacity of 50 megawatts, then launched wind projects in Tafilah with a capacity of 117 megawatts, marking the beginning of a broad wave of investments in renewable energy.
He pointed out that the share of solar water heaters in Jordan did not exceed 13 percent in 2014, but with the programs financed by the fund, the number of benefiting families rose to more than 70,000 households, in addition to 8,000 poor families who were provided with completely free solar systems, noting that the goal is to reach the installation of 90,000 solar heaters by 2030.
He continued that the fund's programs achieve direct savings for citizens, as a solar heater saves between 20 and 25 dinars per month, which is equivalent to 240 to 300 dinars annually per family. Agreements were signed with more than 250 local associations to reach villages and rural areas, which enhanced the nationwide spread of these projects.
Dr. Hamza stated that the fund's programs have extended to include all sectors, with 630 places of worship provided with solar energy systems, 15 public benefit institutions, 20 governmental buildings, and 33 health centers, alongside 135 schools within a royal initiative for heating and cooling. The agricultural sector benefited from the installation of energy systems in 240 farms, while energy rationalization programs were implemented in 201 small and medium factories and 12 hotels through specialized energy audits.
All places of worship, including mosques and churches in Aqaba, use renewable energy systems, while 650 mosques and churches in the kingdom use energy systems, in addition to 15 shelters and care homes, and many public schools.
He added that energy studies in the industrial sector showed the potential for savings ranging between 30 and 40 percent of the energy bill in most factories, reaching up to 60 percent in some cases, a number he described as "astounding" given the scale of industrial consumption.
He pointed out that the fund has signed financing agreements with local banks to facilitate citizens' access to easy loans, with citizens paying simple monthly installments alongside the direct support provided by the fund.
He stressed that the fund not only focuses on the economic aspect but also considers the environmental and social dimensions, including contributing to reducing emissions in accordance with Jordan's commitments to the Paris Agreement and improving air quality and life in cities.
He mentioned that the strategy continues until 2030 with a primary goal of reducing dependence on traditional energy, easing the cost of imports on the state, and enhancing citizen well-being through reduced electricity bills.
At the conclusion of the symposium, an extensive dialogue took place among the attendees, discussing opportunities to expand the scope of benefiting from the fund's programs, the challenges associated with financing mechanisms, and the importance of partnership between the public and private sectors in enhancing the energy transition journey and supporting sustainable economic development plans.
