Energy minister:Jordan to produce uranium by 2013

Elaborating the Jordanian energy minister said, By 2020, current known water resources will not be enough to cover a third of Jordan''s needs. He noted that the Red Sea-Dead Sea water conveyance project requires tremendous power estimated at 900 megawatts to desalinate 800 million cubic meter of water. Toukan said that Jordan imports 98% of its energy not as it was previously known at 96%. He expected that the Kingdom''s fuel bill go up to comprise 22% of the Gross Domestic Product GDP in light of fluctuating gas supplies from Egypt. The minister estimated that the debt of the National Electric Power Company will reach JD700 million because of subsiding electricity and resorting to heavy fuel to generate electricity. In previous remarks to Petra, Toukan said fluctuating gas supplies from Egypt could cost Jordan $1 billion by yearend as the Kingdom is heavily resorting to diesel and heavy fuel to generate electricity. Egyptian gas supplies had resumed a month ago following a spate of attacks on gas pipelines and terminals in the Sinai Peninsula. Speaking on a project for the exploration of deep gas reserves in the eastern Risha gas field, the minister said that British Petroleum BP had completed a three-dimensional (3-D) seismic survey of the area, adding that results will be "clear" by the next summer. In 2010, Jordan imported 97 percent of its energy needs at a total cost of $4 billion, comprising 20% of Gross Domestic Product / GDP/. Demand on electricity in the Kingdom grows 6% every year, official data showed.