Sun it should be

Of all the economic challenges facing Jordan, the energy crisis stands out as the most pressing as the country remains heavily dependent on imported energy sources — to the tune of 97 per cent of its needs, which accounts for about 18 per cent of its GDP.

Obviously this is not sustainable for a country trying to stand on its feet economically to meet the needs of not only its own people but also of the millions of others that have entered it from neighbouring countries, notably Syria.

The problem is that renewable energy sources cannot be enough for the time being, as long as technology is not advanced enough especially for storage purpose.

Under the current conditions, renewable sources of energy can account for only 7-8 per cent of the country’s energy needs, even though Jordan is blessed with 300 days of sunshine per year and wind that can reach from 7.5 to 11.5 metres per second.

The only viable solution, therefore, is to diversify sources of energy to include oil shale, imported gas, including liquefied, and nuclear power, with renewable sources serving for the time being complementary.

Nuclear energy advocates say that the country will have to depend 40 per cent of its energy needs on nuclear power, but not before 2025, as the first nuclear plant agreed upon recently for construction by a Russian company is projected to be completed by 2022.

Meanwhile, Jordan requires more innovative ways to end its energy crisis by adopting new technologies and opting for a much wider application.

Many countries with climate conditions similar to ours managed to increase their dependence on renewable sources of energy. Jordan can do the same by investing more in this field. In a recent interview with CNN, on the sidelines of the WEF on the Middle East and North Africa conference held at the Dead Sea, His Majesty King Abdullah took a firm stand in favour of renewable energy, saying that the country is determined to take a major leap into renewable energy as soon as possible, and even become a net exporter of this form of energy to Europe and beyond.

Near complete dependence on renewable energy appears to be a strategic decision for Jordan.

It is noteworthy that the King did not say a word about nuclear energy or the intention to build nuclear plants when he spoke about the energy challenge facing Jordan.