Energy and environmental issues for Jordan

Jordan possesses only relatively small reserves of crude oil and natural gas. Consequently the amount of hard currency spent on imported oil and petroleum products (i.e. ~500 US$ million in the year 1995) is equivalent to almost half of that earned from exported domestic commodities. Given that the national rates of energy and electricity consumption will most probably double within 15 years from that for the year 1995 (i.e. the expected annual primary-energy demand will be approximately 8 million toe in the year 2010), any increase in crude-oil unit prices will threaten significantly the security of energy supplies to the country and hence the quality of life. There are several options for Jordan to avoid this situation: for instance, accelerating the efforts devoted to the exploration and harnessing of indigenous energy resources such as oil shale; implementing energy-thrift and better long-term environmental planning; as well as the gradual introduction domestically of more economic unit-energy pricing. The rapidly increasing population (i.e. by ~4.5% annually), and recent developments in housing, agriculture as well as industrial and commercial activities, combined with a lack of a comprehensive regulatory framework have led to adverse impacts on the environment. Improving the average standard and quality of living of Jordanian citizens and protecting the environment can be accomplished by the integration of environmental, social and economic goals in development planning and implementation processes, so ensuring increased effectiveness and efficiency of resource use, and stabilising the population. Radically improved water-management is also a major challenge for Jordan, because of the limited amounts of potable fresh-water resources. In 1995, on average only one-fifth, i.e. ~200 m3 per capita-annum, of the World Bank water-scarcity criterion was available. In the year 2010, this rate is expected to be as low as ~100 m3 per capita-annum due to the likely doubling of the population. A pragmatic long-term management strategy needs to be implemented in order to reduce water losses, deal with water pollution, and enhance the harnessing of water from non-conventional sources.