Arab region ‘top candidate’ for development of green hydrogen market — Kharabsheh

AMMAN — The Arab region is the “top candidate” to develop the global green hydrogen market thanks to the successes achieved at the regional energy conference, the MENA Europe Future Energy Dialogue (MEFED), which was held under Royal patronage in cooperation with the federal German government and concluded on Thursday, Energy Minister Saleh Kharabsheh said.

In a press conference, the minister noted that the conference, which was held with the participation of some 1,000 partakers (including 18 ministers) from 40 countries, formed a base to exchange expertise among participating nations and enhance cooperation through electric connection projects and green hydrogen in the Middle East and Europe, according to a ministry statement. 

Kharabsheh said that the conference represented a “model case” for successful international action and showed how the Kingdom is engaged in international efforts, “not only in the energy sector but in all sectors”.

He noted that the event contributed to several bilateral projects and agreements, in addition to the start of negotiations to enhance cooperation among participants, which have so far shown “high levels” of commitment in all aspects of the energy transition, such as energy efficiency, administrating energy demand, renewable energy resources and electric connection, as well as the security of energy supplies.

The minister added that the conference succeeded in shedding light on increasing cooperation between the Middle East, North Africa and Europe to realise the goals of the Paris Agreement and to provide energy supplies in a safe and sustainable manner and reasonable prices.

Kharabsheh also praised the Jordanian-German partnership programme that contributed to the success of the two-day conference, which discussed issues related to hydrogen, energy efficiency, renewable energy and electric connection projects, commending Germany’s support for the Kingdom’s energy sector.

Also on Thursday, on the sidelines of MEFED, Kharabsheh held bilateral meetings with several Arab and European ministers who participated in the event over cooperation aspects, mainly in the energy sector. 

During a meeting with Lebanese Energy and Water Minister Walid Fayyad, the two ministers stressed the importance of cooperation and discussed the latest developments in the sector in light of the challenges that the sector is witnessing at the international level and their repercussions on the Arab region.

They also went over means to benefit from the outcomes of the event, according to a separate ministry statement. 

Kharabsheh  met with Belgian Minister of Energy Tinne Van der Straeten, discussing means to enhance cooperation under the Jordanian-European partnership in light of the outcomes of the conference.

Meanwhile, Kharabsheh and Bulgarian Minister of Energy Alexander Nikolov discussed means to enhance cooperation under the Jordanian-European partnership.

The minister also met with the delegation of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development over joint projects and Jordan's cooperation aspects with the bank in the energy sector.