Aqaba living ‘new spirit’, more to come — premier

AMMAN – Prime Minister Abdullah Ensour on Thursday said Aqaba is witnessing a new "spirit" that qualifies it to realise comprehensive development. 

He made his remarks during a visit to the Aqaba Special Economic Zone (ASEZ) along with a number of Cabinet members, where the premier added that the governorate is heading towards more accomplishments "thanks to the efforts of all concerned bodies", the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.

"Aqaba will witness a prosperous tourism movement due to the quality of services provided, along with the security and stability" the country enjoys, Ensour said.

He called for paying attention to areas surrounding Aqaba city that are out of the Aqaba Special Economic Zone Authority's (ASEZA) jurisdiction and for fair distribution of development gains in these regions.

Halt to real estate investments

ASEZA’s chief commissioner, Hani Mulqi, outlined future plans of the duty-free zone, stressing that planners encourage fewer real estate projects and more infrastructure and entertainment projects, “which Aqaba needs more”.

In his presentation, Mulqi said that the area “has real estate investments that would be enough for the coming years”.

He underlined measures taken to regulate commercial activities in the seaside town, including decisions to close down outlets that had been in violation of zoning regulations. The chief commissioner added that more regulatory measures will address other problems. 

Cost of employees' demands

On the other hand, Ensour noted that the Aqaba labour strikes ended through "wise" solutions and not oppression, saying that the first three years of the so-called Arab Spring had a "strong" impact on the national economy. 

The employees' demands during these years cost the country no less than JD2 billion, the majority of which was the result of "exaggerated" demands, according to the premier. 

“Such demands have harmed facilities that are the main source of income for the protesters themselves,” he noted. 

Gas terminal

During the visit, the premier checked on progress made in the building of the liquefied natural gas terminal, which was named after Kuwaiti Emir Sheikh Sabah Al Ahmad Al Jaber Al Sabah upon directives by His Majesty King Abdullah. 

The terminal, whose soft opening is scheduled for May 25, will be used to receive shipments of natural gas for electricity generation. 

Upon becoming fully operational in June, the terminal will support the Kingdom’s endeavours to diversify sources of energy and reduce electricity-generating costs. 

The project also includes the construction of vessels laden with liquefied natural gas that will supply gas to a floating regasification storage unit, which in turn will supply gas to the terminal. 

In addition, Ensour checked on the liquefied petroleum gas terminal, which has been operational since the start of this month with an initial capacity of half-a-million cubic metres a year. 

He also toured the new southern Aqaba Port, on which the two terminals are constructed, and listened to a briefing by Aqaba Development Corporation’s CEO Ghassan Ghanem, who noted that the first and second phases of the port included the establishment of four piers. 

He added that works are under way to establish cereal silos that will have the storage capacity of 200,000 tonnes to enhance national food security. 

Ensour also visited the oil terminal, which was renovated to increase its capacity from 7 to 14 million tonnes a year.

Checking on the Marsa Zayed project in Aqaba, the premier was acquainted on its progress and phases of construction by Imad Kilani, CEO of Maabar Jordan, which is implementing the scheme. 

The project entails building retail, recreational, entertainment, business and financial facilities, as well as residential towers and several branded hotels. 

During his tour of ASEZ, Ensour visited the Wadi Araba customs centre and checked on its services and challenges facing the employees. 

He directed ASEZA and the customs centre to control smuggling operations within a specified time frame as the issue has to do with the state’s authority and respect for the law, part from Treasury losses caused by smuggling activities. 

The prime minister then headed to the Ayla Oasis project and toured a solar energy system that will cover the energy needs of most of the oasis’ buildings, artificial lakes and golf courses.