Jordan Times
Thursday, April 21, 2005
No hike in oil derivative prices Khader
AMMAN (JT) The government has no present intention to increase the price of oil derivatives, a senior official announced on Wednesday.
Government Spokesperson Asma Khader told
reporters that the government is seriously engaged with studying alternatives
to reduce the cost of the oil bill, including reliance on gas to generate
electricity.
She said the government would further expand this plan through a pilot project
in Aqaba where gas is to be distributed through a network of pipes for various
uses. The Jordan News Agency, Petra, quoted Khader, who is also the culture
minister, as saying that Jordan plans to buy gas from Egypt for industrial use.
According to Petra, Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Azmi Khreisat made
a presentation at Tuesday's Cabinet meeting on his ministry's plan to cut down
oil purchases.
The previous government announced that it would apply a gradual increase in the
price of oil derivatives over a five year period starting with the current year
as part of a plan to remove subsidies on this commodity.
Officials last year cited the soaring world oil prices and the disruption of oil
supplies from Iraq after the US-led invasion as the key determinent behind the
planned move.