Day: 22 June 2023

Assistant Secretary-General of the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources, Hassan Hayari, highlighted the imperative of establishing a unified global electric grid to streamline the transportation of green energy from countries abundant in clean energy resources to those in need. This interconnected network would not only result in cost reduction but also extend the benefits of green energy to all nations involved. Hayari conveyed his message during an address delivered at the 14th session of the Committee on Energy, an integral part of the Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA), held in Beirut, Lebanon. In his discourse, Hayari underscored the tangible impact of the transition to green energy, which has become an inherent part of our daily lives. This paradigm shift is reinforced by prevailing global trends, particularly the outcomes and recommendations stemming from the Sharm el-Sheikh Climate Change Conference (COP 27). These outcomes called for heightened international commitments to emission reduction through all feasible means, with a specific emphasis on renewable energy and energy conservation. The attainment of this collective objective necessitates a collaborative endeavor involving all stakeholders. Furthermore, he shed light on the role of Jordan in aligning with worldwide transformations, saying that the Kingdom’s Economic Modernization Vision, launched in June 2022, aims to significantly elevate Jordan’s standing in terms of prosperity and global economic competitiveness indicators, as well as augment the overall satisfaction of its citizens regarding their quality of life. Delving into the core elements of the Vision, Hayari expounded on the two pillars underpinning its foundation. The first revolves around fostering sustainable and comprehensive growth by fully harnessing the economic potential of the Kingdom, while the second focuses on society, with the primary objective of enhancing the quality of life for all Jordanians, ensuring a brighter future. Both pillars are intertwined by their shared commitment to sustainability. He also provided insights into the comprehensive scope of the Vision, which encompassed the eight pillars driving national economic growth, serving as its foundational elements. It embraced high-value industries, future services, the establishment of Jordan as a global destination, leadership, innovation, quality of life, sustainable environment, and investment. The Vision also placed considerable emphasis on sustainable resources, with the energy sector occupying a pivotal position within its framework. He also underscored the paramount importance of transitioning towards renewable energy sources, as highlighted by the Economic Modernization Vision, which emphasized the urgent need to develop a strategic roadmap for the transformation of the energy sector, specifically directing it towards renewable and alternative sources. This transformation involved the establishment of power and electricity stations, the facilitation of regional connectivity, the formulation of regulatory frameworks and policies to align with future demands, and the implementation of incentives aimed at reducing costs. During his presentation, Hayari outlined the remarkable achievements realized by Jordan in line with the recommendations put forth during the 13th session of the Committee on Energy. He remarked, “In the realm of renewable energy, the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources is actively executing a series of projects that will position Jordan as a regional hub for exporting green energy. This will be achieved through the production of electricity from renewable sources and the advancement of green hydrogen initiatives. These endeavors are in complete alignment with the recently launched Economic Modernization Vision by the government.” Furthermore, he highlighted the significant milestones attained by Jordan in the field of renewable energy implementation. The cumulative capacity of solar and wind energy projects in the country has reached an impressive milestone of approximately 2.6 gigawatts by the end of 2022. This notable achievement has contributed to approximately 27% of the total electricity consumption within the Kingdom, solidifying Jordan’s commitment to sustainable energy practices and a greener future. He also highlighted the steady growth of renewable energy’s contribution to the country’s total electricity consumption, which was previously limited to a mere 1% until 2014 but has since risen to its current level. With these notable achievements, Hayari proudly announced that Jordan has secured the top rank in the region for the cumulative capacity of renewable energy sources used in electricity generation. This recognition came from the Arab Future Energy Index (AFEX) report for 2022, prepared by the Regional Center for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (RCREEE). He reiterated the commitment to further elevate the share of renewable energy in Jordan’s electricity generation to an ambitious target of 50%. To accomplish this goal, the Ministry of Energy is currently undertaking a comprehensive review of the energy sector’s strategy, and is actively supporting initiatives that promote electric transportation and the production of green hydrogen. Recognizing the multifaceted nature of this endeavor, Hayari emphasized the ministry’s proactive approach in implementing the necessary technical, legislative, and strategic measures, noting that the reinforcement and stability of the electrical grid stand as critical components of this effort, with a particular focus on transitioning to smart grids. Moreover, he said, the ministry is actively pursuing energy storage projects and expanding electrical connectivity ventures with neighboring countries and international partners. He also stressed the importance of maximizing the benefits derived from all available tools and technologies to overcome the technical challenges inherent in renewable energy integration. As for the Kingdom’s achievements in implementing the recommendation for electricity delivery to consumers, Hayari said that the electricity coverage in Jordan has reached an impressive 99.9% of the population, placing the country among the few in the region with high levels of electricity coverage. He emphasized that the work to provide electricity to beneficiaries is ongoing through the Rural Electrification Project. The Project ensures to provide access to a reliable electric power supply for rural dwellers. The number of beneficiaries has reached an impressive 906,499, with a total cost of approximately JD202 million. Furthermore, Hayari revealed that multiple projects are currently underway to install solar energy systems in the homes of low-income families, both through grid-connected and off-grid solutions. These initiatives are supported by the National Aid Fund. In addition, off-grid solar energy projects are being implemented to provide electricity for pumping water from remote artesian wells that are not connected to existing electricity networks. To date, 186 sites have benefited from these projects. He also highlighted a project initiated in 2019 to replace 410,000 energy-efficient street lighting units. The project was divided into four tenders covering different regions of the Kingdom, with a total cost of approximately JD65.164 million. The Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources and the Ministry of Local Administration shared the project’s costs equally. Commending the Regional Initiative to promote Small-Scale Renewable Energy Applications in rural areas of the Arab Region, implemented in Jordan on November 25, 2022, Hayari mentioned the successful completion and inauguration of various activities related to the initiative. Furthermore, to address the interdependence of water and energy, Hayari stressed that Jordan faces challenges due to water scarcity and the absence of oil and other natural resources, saying that the country heavily relies on imported energy, posing a significant burden on the state’s budget. Additionally, he emphasized the rising costs in the water sector due to declining groundwater levels and the growing impact of climate change. The situation necessitates the extraction of water from deeper depths, requiring additional energy for water treatment and desalination processes. Hayari underlined the importance of developing sustainable local energy sources through effective planning and strategies, emphasizing the need for scientific results and recommendations to foster an active partnership between the water and energy sectors. In terms of energy efficiency, Hayari elucidated the establishment of the Jordan Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Fund (JREEEF) in 2012 at the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources. The fund plays a crucial role in providing the necessary financing for energy efficiency and renewable energy measures. It designs and supports financing mechanisms that benefit users of renewable energy. Regarding hydrogen, Hayari stressed the increasing necessity of green hydrogen production to combat climate change and environmental degradation, indicating that green hydrogen is seen as a potential savior for the planet, mitigating the negative effects of climate change, such as rising temperatures, erratic weather patterns, and increased volatility and hurricanes caused by high carbon emissions. As he concluded his address, Hayari showcased Jordan’s efforts to become a regional hub for green energy exports and leverage its comparative advantages, noting that the country possesses suitable lands for generating a significant amount of electricity from renewable sources and a favorable geographic location that enables the export of green hydrogen and its derivatives worldwide. Moreover, he mentioned ongoing efforts, including the development of a Green Hydrogen Strategy, expected to be adopted and announced in the third quarter of this year. This strategy reflects Jordan’s commitment to expanding clean energy sources and enhancing local energy sources within the overall energy mix.

Source: Jordan News Agency

The pharmaceutical and medical supplies sector convened on Wednesday for their routine meeting to address various concerns related to their work. The primary focus was on increasing the involvement of industrial companies in foreign exhibitions to promote Jordanian products and broaden their presence in export markets. Jordanian companies’ participation in the Kazakhstan International Healthcare Exhibition and the upcoming MEDEXPO Kenya 2023, as well as the importance of exporting to Central Asian markets, were tackled during the meeting. The sector’s representative at the Jordan Chamber of Industry Fadi Al Atrash said the industry is known for its wide range of high-quality products such as sterilizers, disinfectants, masks, medical reagents, stethoscopes, optics, nutritional supplements, vitamins, orthodontic appliances, and medical consumables. He emphasized the importance of implementing a strategy to boost the local and global presence of Jordanian pharmaceuticals, as well as engaging in international exhibitions. Atrash further highlighted the need to seize the opportunities in the industry, which have a value surpassing $515 million. A presentation was made by the US Agency for International Development (USAID) on how to submit technical support requests for the sector and take advantage of programs that support medium and small enterprises by helping them obtain the necessary certifications and credits to export to the US and European markets. The sector houses 151 facilities with a registered capital of approximately JD341 million, in addition to 15 Jordanian factories in Saudi Arabia, Algeria, Egypt, Morocco, and Sudan.

Source: Jordan News Agency

The Israeli occupation authorities today leveled agricultural land, demolished a shed, and uprooted trees in Umm Tuba neighborhood in occupied East Jerusalem, according to local sources. They said the occupation forces stormed the neighborhood accompanying a bulldozer and proceeded to level a plot of land, uprooted a number of trees planted by a local resident, and demolished a shed for sheep and cattle.

Source: En – Palestine news & Information Agency – WAFA

Extremist Israeli settlers attacked a number of Palestinian-owned vehicles today near the village of Al-Jaba’a, to the southwest of Bethlehem in the occupied West Bank, according to local sources. Diab Masha’leh, the mayor of the village, told WAFA that groups of hardcore Israeli settlers rampaged through the road connecting Al-Jaba’a with the nearby village of Nahalin, where they attacked Palestinian vehicles driving through the road. No injuries were reported. There has been a serious rise in violence by Israeli settlers against Palestinians across the occupied West Bank. Yesterday, scores of vehicles were set ablaze and dozens of homes attacked by army-guarded Israeli settlers in the town of Turmus Ayya, northeast of Ramallah. A Palestinian young man was also killed by Israeli occupation soldiers while confronting the settlers’ attack on the town.

Source: En – Palestine news & Information Agency – WAFA

An introductory and energizing workshop was held today, in Sana’a for officials and supervisors of controlled drugs in government and private hospitals on the occasion of the International Day against Drugs.

And in the workshop, which was held under the slogan “With our efforts, we protect our youth”, with the participation of 80 officials and supervisors of controlled and narcotic drugs in hospitals.. The head of the Supreme Authority for Medicines and Medical Supplies, Dr. Ali Abbas, indicated that the workshop comes within the framework of the rehabilitation, training and awareness activities that it is holding on the occasion of the International Day against Drugs, which falls on the 26th of June.

He stressed the importance of concerted efforts by the official authorities to combat the smuggling of narcotic drugs in particular and drugs in general, praising the role of the Ministry of Interior in combating drugs.

For his part, the liaison officer in the General Department for Drug Control at the Ministry of Interior, Colonel Aiban Al-Radi, explained that there are direct directives and continuous follow-up from the revolution leader, Sayyed Abd al-Malik Badr al-Din al-Houthi, and the Supreme Political Council to work hard and strict in the field of combating the smuggling of narcotic drugs and drugs in general.

He referred to what the Ministry of the Interior is doing in combating drugs in cooperation with the relevant authorities, considering the Supreme Authority for Medicines as a major partner and the primary concern in that.

In turn, the Director of the Drug Administration at the Supreme Commission for Medicines, Dr. Noman Al-Qahtani, pointed out the importance of holding such revitalization and introductory workshops on how government, private hospitals, and all relevant authorities, deal with narcotic drugs and control through official methods, and with the documents explained for that.

The third paper referred to the standard methods for dealing with controlled medicines in the Dutch Doctors Without Borders organization and its projects.

The workshop also discussed the problems facing workers in this aspect, and set recommendations to solve all problems in a way that guarantees the quality, safety and safety of these medicines until they reach the beneficiary.

Source: Yemen News Agency

The Federal Police arrested 5 suspects, one of them with terrorist cases, in Baghdad and Samarra.

A statement by the Federal Police Command stated that a force from the Fourteenth Brigade, with the support of the intelligence effort, managed to arrest a suspect whose name was mentioned in the database of wanted persons according to Article (4 / of terrorism) in the Jlam area in Samarra, and he was duly referred to the competent authorities.

It added that, according to the legal articles (430 threats) (396 assaults), the Federal Police detachments arrested (3) suspects within the sectors of responsibility in the regions (Saba’ al-Bour, al-Mansur, al-Shu’ala), while the detachments deployed by the Nineteenth Brigade in the Banks neighborhood arrested a suspect carrying an unlicensed weapon (a Kalashnikov rifle) fired bullets into space, and all the suspects were duly handed over to the competent authorities.

Source: National Iraqi News Agency

The Basra Governorate Police Command arrested a drug dealer who was in his possession a large amount of crystal.

The Command stated that after receiving information about the whereabouts of the accused immediately, a team was formed, ambushed him tightly, which resulted in his arrest in flagrante delicto by detachments of the Narcotics Affairs Directorate in one of the areas of the governorate.

It added, he was seized with 2 kg of narcotic crystal, and he was referred to the judiciary.

Source: National Iraqi News Agency

The Baghdad Intelligence and Security Directorate announced today, Thursday, the overthrow of a gang consisting of 3 suspects specialized in antiquities trade, after they tried to sell an antiquity in the capital.

The Directorate stated in a statement: “The operation was carried out after obtaining the necessary judicial approvals and luring them into an elaborate ambush, which resulted in their arrest in flagrante delicto, and they were in their possession a confiscated artifact.”

It added: “The detachments arrested two suspects on charges of trading and promoting drug materials and electronic extortion, through their presence in the Karrada area in Baghdad, where one of them was threatening girls through social media programs and blackmailing them in exchange for sums of money.”

It continued: “The detachments of the Intelligence and Security Directorate of Babylon were also able to seize an accused in his possession a counterfeit currency estimated at (10) million dinars that was hidden inside a vehicle, through an elaborate ambush placed on the highway in the Nile district.”

Source: National Iraqi News Agency