Jordan in the Dark Over Egyptian Gas Cut
From Jerusalem Post
AMMAN – Jordan has been left like a headless chicken trying to find a solution to its severe shortage of natural gas after the Islamist-led government in Cairo opted to reduce the amounts pumped to Jordan.
The government uses Egyptian gas to provide electricity for domestic and industrial use. Egyptian gas accounts for 90 percent of energy sources needed to generate electricity in Jordan, according to officials from the National Electric Power Company.
Ever since Egyptian gas was cut due to sabotage and Cairo’s lack of commitment to the deal, the government was forced to use more costly fuels, raising the annual cost of fuel subsidies to a staggering $2.5 billion.
The National Electric Power Company says it was selling electricity to citizens at a price 60 per cent less than generation costs.
