Energy Ministry, Danish company sign ‘green fossil fuels’ MoU

AMMAN — The Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources and the Danish A.P. Moller-Maersk Company on Tuesday signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) regarding the production of green fossil fuels as part of the Kingdom’s plans to expand clean energy resources and increase local energy resources in the total energy mix.

The memorandum was signed by Energy Minister Saleh Kharabsheh and Vice President and Head of Decarbonisation at A.P. Moller-Maersk Company Morten Christiansen on the sidelines of the COP27 conference in Egypt’s Sharm El Sheikh, according to a ministry statement.

Kharabsheh said that the memo comes as part of the Royal directive to enhance green partnerships and make Jordan a regional hub for green development.

He added that both sides will consider investment possibilities and cooperate on an Aqaba-based project to produce sustainable marine fuel — or green methanol— by using seawater desalination and renewable energy sources.

The world is growing increasingly concerned with clean energy investment and specifically, with using green hydrogen to produce energy, he noted.

Christiansen stressed the Kingdom’s geographic importance, and revealed that Jordan was chosen for its abundant resources. The company representative additionally called for the MoU’s implementation procedures to be expedited. 

Under the memo, A.P. Moller-Maersk Company will conduct initial technical and economic feasibility studies on sustainable marine fuel (green methanol) production to help reduce emissions in the marine transport sector.