Jordan Mulls Gas Imports from Qatar

Jordan is expected to begin talks with Qatar to discuss importing natural gas to generate electricity.

Talks will relate to power plant that would be built in Aqaba with Qatari gas.

Since the beginning of this year, Egyptian gas supplies to Jordan have suffered cut-offs due to sabotage against the pipeline in Egypt's Sinai.

Multiple attacks forced Jordan to depend on heavy fuel and diesel to generate electricity, adding more burden on the state budget due to the difference in fuel prices, estimated at $4 million per day.

Under an agreement signed between the Kingdom and Egypt in 2001, Jordan is supposed to receive around 250 million cubic feet of gas annually.

Jordan and Egypt last December signed an amended gas-pricing agreement, which entails new prices approved by the two countries’ cabinets.