Khaberni - Former Director General of the Natural Resources Authority, Dr. Maher Hijazin confirmed that the LNG stock in Aqaba will run out within days, pointing out that Jordan has a reserve sufficient for about 10 days from the date of gas cut-off.
Hijazin revealed that this will force Jordan to buy LNG at high prices amounting to $25 per million British thermal units, whereas previously it was bought for $6.5.
He explained that the cost of generating electricity, between the cost of gas and operational expenses according to the annual report of the National Electricity Company for 2024, was 9.8 cents per kilowatt-hour generated on gas. However, under the current prices, it will rise to about 24 cents per kilowatt-hour generated on liquefied gas.
He indicated that if the government shifts to generating electricity on diesel, the cost will be higher, and therefore, the government will bear losses amounting to $5.6 million daily or $170 million monthly, if the price of liquefied gas remains at $24 per million British thermal units.
Hijazin stated, “Herein lies the importance of developing our local energy sources, notably oil shale, and the government should immediately and without any delay expand the construction of power stations operating on oil shale.”
He pointed out that if the Attarat power plant, which saves the state from buying quantities of imported gas, were not operational, the losses would be about $7 million daily or $210 million monthly.
