03 October 2015, Cairo – Jordan’s Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Ibrahim Saif and visiting Egyptian Petroleum Minister Tarek el Molla discussed plans to develop the Zohr natural gas field, which was discovered in the Mediterranean inside Egypt’s territorial waters.
The two ministers reviewed the Egyptian plans and timetable set for developing the field. They agreed on the importance of boosting the role of the private sector in the energy sector in both Egypt and Jordan.
The two countries also stressed the importance of boosting bilateral ties in the energy, gas and labor fields as well as the need to implement an agreement on cooperation in the energy field, the two countries had signed with Iraq last year.
The two sides agreed to arrange a meeting of officials from the three countries to discuss the implementation of the agreement that was signed in Amman last year.
Molla stressed Egypt’s respect for its commitments to Jordan, adding that developing the Zohr natural gas field would bring benefits to both countries through updating all the signed contracts and projects between Egypt and Jordan.
The Egyptian minister reviewed with his Jordanian counterpart Egypt’s plans and programs to meet the amounting demands for energy.
Saif explained the burden being shouldered by Jordan due to the rise in the oil bill, its impact on the budget deficit and means to overcome energy challenges facing both Jordan and Egypt.
*MENA