Lower House oversight session discusses 15 questions directed at gov’t

AMMAN — The Lower House on Sunday discussed 15 questions directed to the government during an oversight session headed by Speaker Abdulmunim Oddat and attended by Prime Minister and Minister of Defence Bisher Al Khasawneh and members of the Cabinet, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.

Responding to questions addressing the issue of wind turbines and solar generators, Minister of Energy and Mineral resources Hala Zawati said that the government is keen to take measures to reduce energy costs by reviewing power generation agreements and refraining from signing new agreements unless necessary.

In an inquiry pertaining to the Jordan Petroleum Refinery Company, Zawati clarified that the repayment of the refinery's debts borne by the government will begin this year over a period of two years, at a rate of JD150 million each year.

She added that the refinery company’s concession ended in 2008, and licences were granted to three companies to sell oil derivatives, including the investment branch of the refinery "Jopetrol".

All of the said companies paid the value of the license, amounting to JD30 million deposited in the Treasury, she added.

In response to yet another pressing issue, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Local Administration Tawfiq Krishan indicated that the pandemic caused a delay in transferring part of the municipalities shares of fuel revenues, noting that the people’s receivables owed to municipalities stood at JD275 million.

Providing further elaboration on municipal work, Krishan stressed that the municipalities have “failed” to manage their investments due to lack of collaboration with the private sector.

Other MP’s questions also focused on projects related to infrastructure, safety and services provided to people.