Lower House cuts Energy Ministry's budget by almost JD15m

AMMAN — The Lower House's Financial Committee has cut the budget of the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources by JD14.972 million. Mashour Abu Eid, the ministry's spokesperson, said that under the committee's decision, the JD14 million reduction in capital spending includes JD3 million from Fils Al Reef allocated to financing the installation of power cells in remote areas.

The cut also includes JD2 million from Fils Al Reef allocated to replacing the Kingdom's streetlights with an energy efficient system, in addition to JD1 million for the budget item of recycling and strategic storage.

The cut in capital spending also includes JD8 million allocated to implementing the gas pipeline project at Sheikh Hussein Crossing (expropriated lands). The remaining JD972,000 cut in current spending was originally allocated for various items including salaries, wages, incentives, operational expenses and subsidies for public institutions.

The ministry's employees have protested against the reduction, which affects their wages, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported. The total reduction in the 2020 state budget and the draft budgets of independent public institutions amounts to JD201 million.