Infrastructure, Public Works and Urban Issues

[MARTYR]

Post news and developments about infrastucture and urban issues here.

[MARTYR]

New pipeline to help solve northern governorates' water woes



08 October 2009
AMMAN - A new water pipeline in the northern governorates will supply citizens with around 12 million cubic metres of water annually by 2011, according to an agreement signed on Wednesday.


Under the Zaatary-Hofa Water Conveyor project, launched yesterday by the Ministry of Water and IrrigationMinistry of Water and IrrigationMinistry of Water and Irrigation
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and USAIDUSAIDUnited States Agency for International Development
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, a pipeline will be constructed to increase water supply to the northern region, home to 120,000 consumers, by 20 per cent.


The total cost of the project is estimated at $48.4 million, $31.46 million of which will be funded by USAIDUSAIDUnited States Agency for International Development
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, with the Water Authority of Jordan covering the remaining 35 per cent of the costs.


The Zaatary-Hofa Water Conveyor project entails the construction of a new pumping station in Zaatary in Mafraq and building a 47.8 kilometre-pipeline from the Zaatary station to an existing reservoir in Hofa, Irbid.


The project will be established by Sorenson Gross Construction Company, while the US-based CDM Company will be responsible for supervising the implementation of the project, with construction expected to commence next month.


Minister of Water and Irrigation Raed Abu Saud, who signed the agreement yesterday with USAID Mission Director Jay Knott, said the project will address water problems facing the northern region.


"We have a water shortage in the north resulting from increasing demand and limited water resources. The pipeline will help us solve the problems in the north," Abu Saud told reporters during the signing ceremony.


Meanwhile, Knott said the water conveyor will increase water supply in the Irbid, Jerash, Ajloun and Mafraq governorates and will assist the government in water management.


"We hope that people in these areas will see the water flow by the end of 2011," Knott added, noting that several USAIDUSAIDUnited States Agency for International Development
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-funded projects are being implemented across the Kingdom to improve water supply.


"We are happy to continue our support to improve the well-being of people and help the government improve the management of its water resources," Knott said, adding that USAIDUSAIDUnited States Agency for International Development
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allocates $50-$70 million each year in support of Jordan's water sector.

[MARTYR]

New pipeline eases pressure on Jordan Valley water resources


NORTHERN GHOR - Two months after the King Talal Dam Water Conveyor began operations, a majority of Northern Ghor farmers are relieved to know that their citrus trees will not wither away during droughts.


The 40-kilometre underground pipeline, which has the capacity to pump 40,000 cubic metres daily from the dam to farms in the area, was established in August to function as an "emergency water source" in drought years.


"The pipeline is a back-up source rather than a permanent one; it will be used to pump water to Northern Ghor, where citrus trees constitute 80 per cent of cultivation, only in dry years," Minister of Water and Irrigation Raed Abu Saud said on Monday.


He told reporters that the pipeline was established in record time as it was implemented in 120 days at a total cost of JD23 million, with the aim of protecting trees from drought and farmers from losses during dry spells.


He made the remarks yesterday during a media tour organised by the Ministry of Water and IrrigationMinistry of Water and Irrigation of projects that seek to improve water efficiency in the area, explore new water sources and support agriculture in the Ghor, the country's "vegetable basket".


Northern Ghor farms rely on water pumped from the 120-kilometre King Abdullah Canal, which supplies water for drinking and irrigation purposes. Water officials say the pipeline will fill the water gap in the area.


Although most farmers welcomed the implementation of the King Talal Dam Water Conveyor, citing an increase in water allocations and an expected increase in production, some refuse to irrigate their land with water from the dam.


"It is contaminated water; its quality doesn't suit our trees. The water comes from the King Talal Dam, which stores water discharged from the Khirbet Al Samra Water Treatment Plant," Abu Hazaa, a farmer in his 70s, said during a meeting with the minister and water officials.


Abu Hazaa, said he prefers irrigating his farm with water from the King Abdullah Canal, which is fed by the Yarmouk River and supplies the Zai Water Treatment Plant with water for drinking.


Abu Saud, who was accompanied by Minister of State for Media Affairs and Communications Nabil Sharif, told farmers that after the JD300 million upgrade of the Khirbet Al Samra plant in 2007, the quality of the treated water improved and is now in line with international standards.


Yousef Barakat, a farmer who heads the Pella irrigation water consumers' society, said water quality from the conveyor is in line with international standards, noting that he exports his produce to European countries, which have strict standards governing the quality of imports.


Abu Saud said the ministry increased the water supply pumped to agricultural units, noting that pumping from the King Talal Dam rose from 10 hours per week to 14.


"This has positively impacted cultivation in the area, especially since rainfall decreased over the past few years and thus dams' storage receded," he noted.


Yesterday's media tour also covered a water efficiency project, under which the ministry and the French Development Agency are financially supporting farmers by covering 70 per cent of the cost of replacing their old irrigation systems with modern and more efficient ones.

[MARTYR]

Gov't seeking funding for national Red Sea water project


AMMAN - The government is currently in discussions with international funding agencies to secure financing for the $2 billion first phase of the Jordan National Red Sea Water Development Project (JRSP), a senior government official said on Tuesday.

Minister of Water and Irrigation Secretary General Maysoun Zu'bi said the government is committed to implementing the JRSP, whose goals are similar to that of the World Bank's Red-Dead Water Conveyance Project.

The water official stressed that the national project does not contradict the Red-Dead project, but is complementary and can benefit from the ongoing environmental and economic feasibility studies.


"Jordan will start with the first phase of the JRSP with the help of donor countries and private investors... if the Red-Dead Project proves to be feasible, the JRSP can be considered as the first phase of the Red-Dead project," Zu'bi told The Jordan Times yesterday.


Zu'bi underscored that with the "critical" water situation, Jordan cannot afford to wait until the results of the Red-Dead project's economic feasibility study and the environmental impact assessment are announced.


According to experts, the two studies, launched in May 2008, are scheduled to conclude by the end of next year.


Zu'bi made the remarks on the sidelines of a symposium on the Disi Water Conveyance Project, organised by the Jordan Engineers Association.


The JRSP is projected to provide 120 million cubic metres (mcm) of water annually by the year 2014 in its first phase, expanding to 700mcm annually in later phases.


Water officials said construction of the JRSP, which entails five phases and will be built on a build-operate-transfer basis, is expected to be completed within 25-30 years.

Zu'bi said the Ministry of Water and Irrigation will take the results of the Red-Dead project's environmental and economic feasibility studies into consideration when implementing the JRSP.


One of the main concerns facing experts is the impact of mixing Dead Sea water with Red Sea water, which is 10 times less saline.


Zu'bi noted that if results of the environmental impact assessment indicate that the mixing of waters would harm the Dead Sea's unique ecological characteristics, other alternatives will be considered.


"These include storing the brine at reservoirs and using them for extracting salt, or simply leaving the water to evaporate... many options are available and specialised experts will examine the best methods," the water official added.


The JRSP was announced at the conclusion of the World Economic Forum at the Dead Sea in May, with the government expecting construction on the $10 billion project to start late next year.


The project aims to provide the Kingdom with much-needed fresh water and save the Dead Sea from depletion by desalinating Red Sea water at a desalination plant to be built in Aqaba.


Water generated from the plant will be distributed to Aqaba and nearby development projects while the discharged brine would be channelled into the Dead Sea to raise water levels, currently at 408 metres below sea level.


According to experts, the Dead Sea is shrinking at a rate of one metre per year, largely due to the diversion of water from the Jordan River for agricultural and industrial use.


During the past two decades alone, it has plunged more than 30 metres, with experts warning that it could dry up within the next 50 years.

[alik41]

I remember reading an article around a year ago about some highway that is being built in East Amman, I think it was from QAIA to Zarqa or something like that (maybe it was al Hizam Alda'iri). Am I imagining this, and if not what has happened to this project?

[yazm1991]

Originally Posted by alik41

I remember reading an article around a year ago about some highway that is being built in East Amman, I think it was from QAIA to Zarqa or something like that (maybe it was al Hizam Alda'iri). Am I imagining this, and if not what has happened to this project?

Will try to find some information for you. I think i heard about this project some time ago.

[yazm1991]

Study to examine ways to save Zarqa water infrastructure

By Hana Namrouqa

AMMAN - A $2.1 million technical and environmental feasibility study has been launched to determine how best to rehabilitate deteriorating water networks in Zarqa Governorate, the Ministry of Water and Irrigation announced on Monday.

The study, funded by the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC), will be carried out by an Irish company under an agreement signed last week by the firm and the Ministry of Water and Irrigation.

The feasibility study, which will examine the impact of implementing two projects in Zarqa to improve water supply to the densely populated area, is scheduled to conclude in March 2010.

Minister of Water and Irrigation Raed Abu Saud said yesterday that the implementation of the two projects, whose costs will be determined once the study concludes, will commence at the end of next year.

The first project seeks to improve the water supply in Zarqa, while the second aims at boosting the area’s water sources by examining the Amman-Zarqa and Azraq aquifers. The scheme also calls for the rehabilitation of 99 underground wells across the governorate.

"Hopefully, the two projects will be completed before 2015 in order to address water loss, improve water networks and increase supply efficiency in Zarqa," Abu Saud said in a press statement received by The Jordan Times yesterday.

Under the agreement, sewage networks will be examined in Zarqa and Ruseifa, which are currently failing to absorb increasing demand due to rapid population growth.

The study will also provide recommendations to end Zarqa Governorate’s sewage problems and improve the area’s health and environment.

The study will also explore expanding the Khirbet Al Samra Wastewater Treatment Plant as an alternative to building a new facility in Wadi Zarqa, according to the ministry, which said that the expansion will be funded by the MCC.

[yazm1991]

Kingdom’s uranium prospects ‘promising’

AMMAN - After less than a year of exploration, the Jordanian-French Uranium Mining Company (JFUMC) is reporting promising results for the potential location of the Kingdom’s first uranium mine, company officials said on Tuesday.

Over the last nine months, drilling and geological mapping carried out by the firm, a joint venture between French mining company AREVA and Jordan Energy Resources Inc., has revealed large amounts of high-grade uranium close to surface levels.

Operating within a 1,469-square-kilometre concession area, the JFUMC has focused on a 100-square-kilometre fertile zone in Swaqa as well as the Khan Azzabib, Wadi Maghar and Attarat areas.

Working 24 hours a day in 12-hour shifts, 46 Jordanians and nine French nationals have dug 29 trenches to accelerate the uranium mine development process, which often takes up to 15 years, to clear the way for mining activities as early as 2012, according to JFUMC General Manager Gilles Recoche.

With 14 kilometres worth of material logged and analysed, results have been “exciting”, he said, with the Jordanian-French firm confident that they will meet the requirements of the bankable feasibility study to encourage investors to support the mine.

Approximately 9,680 drilling samples have been taken and analysed at JAEC labs to determine the amount and quality of uranium found in the area, he added.

Within the fertile zone, uranium is found near the surface level at an average grade of 400 parts per million, or grammes of uranium per tonne, results have shown. Lower-grade uranium at various concentrations is found at depths as low as 90 metres below ground, according to the company, another positive indicator for future drilling.

“We do not know anywhere else in the world where uranium is found at such shallow depths,” Recoche said during a field visit organised for the Lower House Energy Committee and journalists.

With uranium present at various levels and mineralisation open at depth, the maps of the area represent a “unique prospective geological model”, which can be used not only in the Kingdom, but in uranium mining across the region and North Africa, he added.

“This project is important to AREVA and we recognise its importance to the country of Jordan,” he told The Jordan Times, noting that the central Jordan project has the highest exploration budget of all AREVA activities in 32 countries, accounting for some 15 per cent of the French firm’s exploration funds.

During the visit, Jordan Atomic Energy Commission (JAEC) Chairman Khaled Toukan underlined the importance of uranium resources for the Kingdom’s peaceful nuclear programme, a “national project” to overcome energy and water scarcity.

If the bankable feasibility study is approved, JFUMC will proceed with establishing an open-pit mine. Once established, milling, crushing, extraction, precipitation and converting of uranium ore will all take place within the Kingdom, according to the firm.

In the next year, the company will carry out a hydrological study in cooperation with the JAEC to determine ways to convey water for mining activities, with a focus on underground water sources within the central region.

Recoche added that the firm is looking to partner with local universities to provide students with training and internships to better prepare future Jordanian cadres for the Kingdom’s uranium mining sector.

Meanwhile, talks are ongoing with British-Australian mining firm Rio Tinto and the Chinese Sino Uranium to establish similar joint ventures, Toukan told The Jordan Times. Under the agreements, Rio Tinto would proceed with exploration in the southeast region, mainly Wadi Sahra Abayad, while Sino Uranium would continue activities in the Eastern Desert in areas such as Wadi Bahiya, Mafraq and Rweished.

Jordan is home to some 130,000 tonnes of uranium, most of which is found within 1.5 metres of surface level and suitable for extraction.

The resource is vital to the Kingdom’s nuclear energy programme, which is expected to provide up to 30 per cent of Jordan’s electricity by 2025 and help the country achieve energy independence.

The country’s first nuclear power plant, a 1,000-megawatt generation III reactor, is expected to be built in a location in Aqaba, some 20 kilometres inland from the port city.

[MARTYR]

Qatraneh power plant project on track

25 October 2009

AMMAN - The Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources will move forward with the second phase of the Qatraneh power plant project within the next 10 days, according to a senior energy official.

The government and a private sector company will reach financial closure of the second phase of the Qatraneh Power Generation Project by the end of this month, Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Khaldoun Qteishat told reporters last week.

On the sidelines of a signing ceremony for the expansion of the Samra power plant, he underlined the need to build power stations to meet the rising energy demand in the Kingdom, which he placed at 7 per cent annually.

The Qatraneh Electric Power Company, a consortium that comprises the Korea Electric Power and Saudi Arabia's Zenel Company has been tasked by the government to build an electricity generation plant in Qatraneh at a cost of around $455 million

The project falls under the ministry's strategic plan to build electric power plants that can generate around 300 megawatts (MW) annually to meet the increasing demand.

According to the ministry's plan, the Kingdom's additional electric generating power should reach 4,000MW, by 2020.

Under the agreement, the consortium will build the plant on a build-operate-own basis over a term of 25 years to generate electricity at a capacity of 373MW.

The first simple cycle phase of the project will go into operation at the end of November next year, while the second combined cycle phase will become operational in August 2011.

The project is considered the second of its kind in Jordan and is expected to cover the growing demand for electric power between 2010 and 2013.

The Kingdom currently imports 96 per cent of its energy needs, spending over one-fifth of its gross domestic product

[MARTYR]

Ministry of Planning to launch Jordan Aid Information Management System

25 October 2009

AMMAN (JT) -- Ministry of Planning and International Cooperation will soon launch the Jordan Aid Information Management System to provide a platform on all ongoing development projects and programmes funded through foreign aid.

According to a statement from the ministry, donors, international organisations and financing institutions will have access to a transparent system on the financial and technical assistance they provide, which ensures that there is no duplication of efforts in projects funded by them.

The new system was developed with the support of the European Union and UNDP, as well as donor missions in Jordan.

During the first annual conference of the International Aid Transparency Initiative, which was held in The Hague on October 20-21, Planning and International Cooperation Minister Suhair Al-Ali highlighted the ministry's efforts in boosting transparency on donor assistance, saying that establishing effective dialogue with the donor community has helped donors to understand Jordan's development priorities and the key challenges that the country is facing.

"In order to achieve more dialogue, the ministry established government-donor coordination working groups in 10 priority sectors, where relevant ministries and donors meet to discuss developments in these sectors and the financial and technical support needed ," Al-Ali said.

Stating that Jordan was to attract large amounts of foreign aid to the national budget, she attributed the increasing aid to donors' recognition of the progress the Kingdom has made in developing its management capacity and financial accountability.

According to ministry figures, around 46 per cent of the grants committed by donors in 2009 is in the form of direct budget support, standing at JD259 million ($365 million).

Al-Ali, a key speaker at "The Demand for Aid Information", stressed the importance of aid transparency and predictability for both recipient and donor countries, saying that it is crucial for donor countries to accommodate recipient countries' national priorities, and respond to their needs.

"Governments need to be in the driver seat as far as national priorities are concerned, an ensure that aid is channelled to priority areas," she said.

The International Aid Transparency Initiative was launched at the Accra High Level Forum in September 2008 and is regarded as a further step in responding to the 2005 Paris Declaration on Aid Effectiveness objectives of accountability and predictability.

The initiative aims at making information about aid more transparent to better track what aid is being used for and what it is achieving.

[MARTYR]

ATG to launch 2 new channels in January

23 October 2009
AMMAN - The Arab Telemedia Group (ATG) will launch two news and variety satellite channels in late January, the group's CEO, Talal Awamleh, said on Thursday.


The two channels, AT News and AT First, will start transmission on January 31, 2010 and aim to provide a variety of news programmes, dramas, sitcoms and other content tailored towards various segments of society, Awamleh said during a press conference yesterday.


The channels' programmes will also be available on the Internet and accessible via mobile phones, Awamleh said.


The CEO stressed that the two channels, owned by the ATG, have no links to their previous incarnation, ATV , which faced several hurdles preventing its launch.


"We have nothing to do with ATV, which faced several obstacles. We are committed to the launch of the two channels," he said at the press conference.

ATV's initial broadcast was halted on August 1, 2007 by the Audiovisual Commission due to incomplete paperwork. A week later, the launch faced a new hurdle after the Jordan Radio and Television Corporation insisted that an agreement between the two establishments only covered terrestrial transmission.


Later in 2008, the ATV company, which was established by media tycoon Mohammad Elayan, was sold for more than JD15 million to Al Ajayeb for Investments Company, owned by Mohammad Khalid Asfour and Mohammad Abdul Aati. It was later sold to the ATG.


According to Awamleh, 99 per cent of the group's staff are Jordanians and the two networks will create about 2,800 direct and indirect jobs.


Currently, there are over 230 Jordanian and non-Jordanian channels transmitting and retransmitting from the Jordan Media City.

[MARTYR]

Jordan needs $ 18 billion to meet its energy demands

26 October 2009
Amman - Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Khaldoun Qteishat said that the challenge to meet the growing demand of energy in Jordan requires investments of around $ 18 billion in various sectors by the end of 2020.

During a panel discussion with the Chairman and members of the Jordanian businessmen association on Sunday Qteishat said that Jordan faces major challenges in energy sector and this requires efforts to address them in order to provide the Kingdom with energy and water supplies and to secure the cost of these resources which are vital for human resources and industrial development.

He underlined the unjustified waste of energy in the Kingdom, and the decreasing use of solar system due to the already halted government subsidized diesel prices which used to make it cheaper for citizens to use fuel for heating rather than the solar energy.

The minister announced that the cost of energy in the Kingdom last year amounted to JD 2.765 billion, compared to JD 1.153 billion in 2004.

This constitutes more than 21 percent of GDP at current prices, compared to 14.5 percent of GDP in 2004.

Qteishat expected the growing demand in electricity power will stand at 6.4 percent annually and the demand for primary energy to reach about 15 million tons of oil equivalent in 2020 compared to 7.7 million tons of oil equivalent in 2008.

Through adopting a new comprehensive national strategy to meet the challenges of energy sector until 2020, the government seeks to develop exploitation of domestic resources of energy such as natural gas, oil shale, uranium, and the use of nuclear power for power generation and water desalination.

As for the development of Al-Risheh gas field , Qteishat said that the agreement signed between the national petroluem company and British petroluem will implement a 3 - year exploration phase, extendable for a fourth year, during which BP would spend $ 237 million in two phases.

"If explorations show that the project was economically feasible, BP will spend $ 8-10 billion to develop the field to increase gas production from 330 mcf per day to 1000,000,000 mcf" ,he added.

© Jordan News Agency - Petra 2009

[alik41]

عبرت شركات طيران عاملة في الأردن عن استيائها من قرار شركة مجموعة المطارات الدولية التي تدير مطار الملكة علياء الدولي والقاضي برفع رسوم المطار بنسبة 21.12%.

وقالت الشركات ردا على استفسارات لـ"الغد" إنّ توقيت القرار غير مناسب في وقت تتعرض فيه تلك الشركات لضغوطات مالية في ظل الأزمة المالية العالمية.

ورجحت تلك الشركات أن يكون للقرار تأثيرات على المدى البعيد على حجم المسافرين عبر مطار عمان.

وكانت مجموعة المطارات الدولية أكدت رفع رسوم المطار على شركات الطيران التي تتعامل مع المطار بنسبة 21.12% ابتداء من العام المقبل، وذلك بما يعكس الزيادة على معدل التضخم منذ تولي الشركة إدارة المطار في أيار (مايو) 2007 وحتى نهاية العام الماضي.

وتأتي هذه الزيادة بحسب وزير النقل سهل المجالي ضمن الاتفاقية الموقعة بين الحكومة والشركة التي تدير المطار حاليا والتي أعطيت حق زيادة وتحديد رسوم المطار كل 3 أعوام وبحسب معدلات التضخم.

ووفق رئيس مجلس إدارة ممثلي شركات الطيران العاملة في الاردن بسام السلايطة، أنّ "الوقت غير مناسب لزيادة الرسوم بهذا الحجم، فالأولى أن تكون هذه الزيادة بعد الانتهاء من أعمال الصيانة مع الأخذ بعين الاعتبار وجهة نظر الشركات والتكلفة".

وبين أنّ "شركات الطيران لا تمانع زيادة الرسوم، إلا أنّ هذه الزيادة لا بد أن تترافق مع تحسين الخدمات المقدمة في المطار، كما هو الحال بالنسبة لمطارات العالم كافة".

وأشار الى أنّ "الكثير من الخدمات المقدمة للشركات لم يطرأ عليها تحسينات كالجسور الهوائية، على سبيل المثال".

وقال لـ"الغد" إنّ "المعايير الدولية تسمح برفع رسوم الخدمات المقدمة ضمن مقاييس معينة وهي بأن تكون هذه الزيادة تعكس التكلفة التي تتحملها شركة المطارات، وأن يتم اقرارها بعد التشاور مع شركات الطيران". وأوضح أنّ "شركة مجموعة المطارات الدولية قامت بإملاء القرار على شركات الطيران ولم تأخذ بأي رأي من آراء الشركات".

وقال إنه "لم يتم إطلاع شركات الطيران على كيفية اعتماد مجموعة المطار نسبة الزيادة في الرسوم" مشيرا الى أن ربطها بالتضخم "ليس منطقيا لأنّ التضخم يقاس على أسعار السلع والخدمات بشكل عام وليس خدمات المطارات".

وكانت شركة مجموعة المطار ووزارة النقل قد أكدتا في وقت سابق "أنّ قرار زيادة الرسوم كان بعد مشاورات ومناقشات مع شركات الطيران".

وأشار السلايطة الى أنّ "شركات الطيران من السهل عليها أن تعكس هذه الزيادة على تذاكر السفر لكن هذا سيؤثر على المسافرين وحركة تنقلهم وعددها".

وحول موضوع اقتراب قيمة رسوم المطار من نظيراتها في دول مجاورة، اشار السلايطة الى أنّ "لكل بلد مقاييسها الاقتصادية الخاصة بها ولا يمكن مقارنة مطارات الاردن بدول كالسعودية أو دول الخليج الأخرى".

وتوقع رئيس مجلس الإدارة الرئيس التنفيذي لمجموعة الشركات الاردنية للطيران الكابتن محمد الخشمان أنّ رفع هذه النسبة سيؤثر على حجم التشغيل في مطار الملكة علياء وعلى تشغيل شركات الطيران حيث إنّ وضع الشركات لا يحتمل رفع أسعار وخصوصا في ظل الوضع العالمي.

وأوضح أنّه "على المدى البعيد إذا انخفضت أسعار الخدمات في المطارات المجاورة فإن مطار الملكة علياء سيتأثر وسينخفض حجم المسافرين القادمين من والى المطار".

وقال المدير العام الرئيس التنفيذي لشركة الصقر الملكي للطيران الكابتن زياد هناندة إنّ "هذه الزيادة لم تكن مناسبة ولم تكن في الوقت المناسب وهي مرتفعة، خصوصا وأنّ شركات الطيران تعاني من ضائقات مالية بسبب الازمة المالية العالمية".

وألمح الى أنّ رفع الرسوم سيؤثر على أسعار التذاكر وبالتالي أعداد المسافرين.

وكان المدير العام والرئيس التنفيذي للاتحاد الدولي للنقل الجوي (أياتا) جيوفاني بيزنياني، أشار في كلمة له خلال الدورة الثانية والأربعين للاجتماع العام السنوي للاتحاد العربي للنقل الجوي آكو في جدة الى ضرورة السيطرة على تكلفة التشغيل لشركات الطيران من خلال التزام هذه الشركات وشركاء الصناعة في مختلف المجالات ملمحا الى "الاتفاقية التي وقعت بين الحكومة الأردنية مع شركة (AIG) لبناء وإدارة وتشغيل مبنى جديد للمسافرين في مطار الملكة علياء الدولي في عمان".

وقال إن "تحويل بعض المطارات إلى مطارات تجارية يمكن أن يغير طبيعة علاقة الشركة بين شركات الطيران وإدارة المطارات. وبموجب هذه الاتفاقية تستطيع (AIG) صاحبة الامتياز رفع رسوم المطارات دون التشاور مع شركات الطيران وتحصل الحكومة على 54% من الدخل الكلي للمطار. وهكذا أصبح المنظم شريكا لصاحب الامتياز".

وأضاف بأنّ الحكومة الأردنية "تميزت عبر السنين برؤيتها المتطورة لصناعة الطيران كمحرك للنشاط الاقتصادي، إلا أنه يدهشني أن لا تأخذ الحكومة الأردنية بعين الاعتبار عند توقيع هذه الاتفاقية مبادئ منظمة الطيران المدني الدولية الايكاو (ICAO) التي تدعو إلى التشاور مع شركات الطيران. وإنني أناشدها بأن تغير شروط هذه الاتفاقية بما يتناسب مع مبادئ الايكاو".

ويندرج تحت هذه "الرسوم" رسم هبوط الطائرات ورسم اصطفاف الطائرات ورسم جسر عبور الركاب ورسوم المرور "الترانزيت" ورسوم المغادرة (محلي وأجنبي).

وكان تصريح صادر عن مجموعة المطار أنه تم اقرار رفع الرسوم تماشيا مع معدل التضخم من أجل التعرف على خسائر القوة الشرائية والتخفيف من مخاطر الاستثمار بالشكل الذي يضمن أن الأسس المالية والاقتصادية لن تتآكل بفعل ضغط التضخم.

وأكد التصريح "بأنه وعلى خلاف العديد من مشاريع خصخصة المطارات حول العالم والتي قامت بتغيير رسوم المطار بشكل كبير من أجل التأكد من إدامة مشاريعها، فإنّ رسوم المطار المقررة في مطار الملكة علياء الدولي عدلت بناء على معدلات التضخم المحلية.

http://www.alghad.com/index.php?news=457682

http://www.ammonnews.net/article.aspx?articleNo=47677

[MARTYR]

King inaugurates first independent power plant

27 October 2009
AMMAN - His Majesty King Abdullah on Monday officially inaugurated the $300 million Amman East Power Project, which officials said will help increase Jordan's electricity generation capacity by approximately 15 per cent.


The 370-megawatt (MW) combined cycle power plant, located 30 kilometres east of Amman, was built by AES Jordan PSC, a company owned by a consortium of AES Oasis Ltd. and Mitsui and Co. Ltd., which also owns and operates the plant.


The King also toured the plant and was briefed on its generation phases.


"The plant will help meet the surging demand on electricity in the Kingdom," Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Khaldoun Qteishat told reporters.


According to the minister, demand on electricity in Jordan increases by about 7.4 per cent annually.


The facility, Jordan's first independent power plant, runs on the natural gas provided by the pan-Arab gas pipeline from Egypt. The plant will be capable of switching to diesel fuel oil if needed, a statement by the company said, noting that the plant is an environment-friendly plant.


The strategic 270-kilometre gas pipeline between Jordan and Egypt was inaugurated by King Abdullah and Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak in July 2003. The line is the first phase of an inter-regional project that costs more than $1 billion.


According to the ministry, the Kingdom relies on natural gas for 80 per cent of its energy needs. In remarks at the inauguration ceremony, Qteishat said the project is an important demonstration of the success of the country's energy strategy.


The Kingdom currently imports some 96 per cent of its energy needs, accounting for over one-fifth of its gross domestic product.


The minister said the financial closure for another independent plant, Al Qatraneh, is imminent, adding that the facility will generate about 370MW.


In their remarks at the ceremony, representatives of the consortium and implementing companies pointed out the benefits of the project, which, in the construction phase, hired 1,000 Jordanians and created about 40 direct jobs for local residents.


They also highlighted the potential of the project to help increase the Kingdom's power generation and enable it to eventually export electricity.


The Amman East Power Project will deliver electricity to the National Electric Power Company through a 25-year power purchase agreement.

[MARTYR]

Abu Hdeib inaugurates Zarqa development projects

28 October 2009
AMMAN - Minister of Municipal Affairs Shihadeh Abu Hdeib on Tuesday inaugurated five development projects in Zarqa Governorate valued at JD900,000 and expected to create more than 100 jobs.


During a visit to Berin, west of Zarqa city, Abu Hdeib said the projects will contribute to enhancing the living conditions of area residents and addressing unemployment, adding that the ministry will continue its support for the establishment of projects in areas in significant need of development.


"The projects, which were created in cooperation with the private sector include a multipurpose hall, the expansion of Berin Municipality headquarters and a trash bin factory," Abu Hdeib told The Jordan Times yesterday, noting that the plant will serve not only Berin but also the neighbouring towns and will create more than 30 jobs.


The minister, who was accompanied by Zarqa MPs and the director general of the Cities and Villages Development Bank, also opened a 10-dunum public park in the town of Aalook, which includes a library and a children's recreation centre.


In addition, Abu Hdeib inaugurated Prince Hashem Public Park in Berin, which was established in cooperation with the Tourism Ministry on a 200-dunum plot of land at a total cost of around JD500,000 and includes a mosque, sports fields and kiosks.


Berin Mayor Mohammad Ghweiri briefed the minister on the municipality's plans, highlighting an ongoing project, implemented in cooperation with the private sector, to produce pickled olives.


The mayor said that despite the project's low cost, its high-quality products have led to increased demand from different areas and provided the municipality with an important source of income.

[MARTYR]

Cold spell raises demand on gas cylinders

AMMAN –– The cold weather conditions that have affected the Kingdom over the past two days raised demand on gas cylinders by 30-50 per cent, according to President of the Gas Station Owners Association Fahed Fayez.


"Demands on fuel derivatives witnessed a notable increase since Thursday as people were preparing for the forecast depression," Fayez told The Jordan Times on Monday, adding that around 120,000 gas cylinders were sold on Saturday compared to around 60,000 sold the same day last week.


He highlighted that daily demand for heating gas in "normal" weather conditions typically stands between 40,000 and 65,000 cylinders, whereas during cold spells, demand rises up to 140,000 cylinders.


"When people hear that a cold spell will hit the country, they tend to store gas and diesel for heating purposes," said Fayez, stressing that there are sufficient quantities of gas cylinders in the Kingdom's warehouses to meet the seasonal demand.


He underscored that the JPRC is working at full capacity to supply gas stations across Jordan with fuel derivatives as usual.

The JPRC raised its stock of fuel derivatives, particularly gas cylinders and gasoline, to meet the increasing demand, according to the Jordan News Agency, Petra.


In a statement, the company indicated that the increase in fuel stock emanated from increasing the refinery’s capacity, noting that additional required quantities of fuel will be imported to cover the Kingdom's needs.


The depression centred over Cyprus brought rain and cold weather, especially in the northern parts of the country, and is expected to taper off today, according to the Jordan Meteorological Department (JMD).


The temperature in Amman is expected to reach a maximum of 15°C and a minimum of 10°C today, the JMD indicated, adding that winds will be southwesterly moderate.


Meanwhile, several roads in the Kingdom, particularly desert roads, witnessed low visibility on Monday due to strong winds, according to the Public Security Department (PSD).


PSD Spokesperson Major Mohammad Khatib said department staff are directing people to safer routes, preventing them from entering onto low-visibility roads, and warning motorists to reduce speed and abide by traffic patrols' orders.

[MARTYR]

Construction on Irbid wastewater treatment plant to begin ‘soon’

AMMAN - Construction on a JD40 million wastewater treatment plant to serve Irbid residents is expected to start soon, a senior ministry official said on Monday.


Once operational, the Al Shallaleh plant is expected to treat 13,500 cubic metres of water daily, serving 16,000 households in southeastern Irbid, Minister of Water and Irrigation Raed Abu Saud said on the sidelines of a signing ceremony yesterday.


Water treated by the plant will be used for irrigation in the northern Jordan Valley and for the cultivation of animal feed, according to the ministry , which signed an agreement with the German consortium of Passavant Roediger and Hussein Attyeh Construction Company to implement the project.


Neighbourhoods expected to be served by the plant include Idon, Sarih, Bushra, Howwara, Salm Doqara, Natfeh and Beit Ras in Irbid Governorate, according to a statement released by the ministry.

Construction work on the wastewater treatment plant, which is financed by the German Development Bank (KfW), is expected to be completed within two years, according to the minister.


Abu Saud underlined the importance of the project, which he said is integral to national projects seeking to resolve environmental issues and conserve water, particularly underground water resources.


According to a statement by the ministry , a joint venture of Fichtner Engineering Firm and the Jordanian consultations union will supervise the implementation of the project and provide training on maintenance procedures.

[MARTYR]

Jordan Dubai Energy & Infrastructure Signs MoU with Kazyna Capital Management

Amman, 03 November 2009 – Within its commitment to investing in strategic national infrastructure, and as part of its interest in building strong partnerships with leading regional and international investment and infrastructure companies, Jordan Dubai Energy & Infrastructure (JDE&I) – the investment arm of Jordan Dubai Capital in the energy and infrastructure sectors– announced the signing of a memorandum of understanding with Kazyna Capital Management (KCM), the private equity arm of the soverign wealth holding company Samruk-Kazyna.


By virtue of this memorandum, both JDE&I and KCM agree to utilize their respective expertise to jointly invest in and establish private equity and infrastructure funds, as well as to develop various investment and infrastructure projects and activities in both Jordan and the Republic of Kazakhstan that not only offer strong returns on investment, but also help develop vital infrastructure in both countries.


Commenting on the signing of the memorandum, His Excellency Samir Al-Rifa’i, Chairman of JDE&I, said: “We are proud to be cooperating with Kazyna Capital Management in developing infrastructure projects that help improve the quality of infrastructure in both Jordan and Kazakhstan. This memorandum will enable us to jointly participate in dynamic investment opportunities in various industry sectors such as power, water, and transportation logistics and use our respective expertise to establish unique and mutually beneficial infrastructure projects, which is in line with JDE&I’s business plans.


By playing a pivotal role in creating a strong and technically sound infrastructure in Jordan that caters effectively to the growth needs within the Kingdom, we hope to support and stimulate economic growth and industrial development across all sectors, positioning Jordan as an top-tier investment destination in accordance with the vision of His Majesty King Abdullah II.”


Expressing his own pleasure with this new partnership, Mr. Almas Chukin, Deputy Chairman of the Management Board at KCM, stated: “KCM’s primary objective is to increase its involvement in investment projects and the development of non-extractive industries in the Republic of Kazakhstan, and as such it brings us great pleasure to be cooperating with a leading company such as JDE&I for this purpose. We believe that our new partnership with Jordan Dubai Energy & Infrastructure will help us achieve our objectives by drawing upon the unique expertise of both parties.”

[yazm1991]

GAM, local community nearing compromise

In light of concerns over developments in Jabal Al Qalaa, the Greater Amman Municipality (GAM) is reviewing plans for the historical neighbourhood, according to activists and developers.

Over the past few months, Amman Mayor Omar Maani has held meetings with the local community council, visiting the neighbourhood “dozens of times”, according to residents.

Meanwhile, authorities have nearly completed developments on the Citadel itself, placing railings on the edges of the hill and converting the area’s southern terrace into a car park and a venue to host events away from archaeological sites.

Basic construction has been completed on the visitors gateway, a 100-square-metre centre complete with restroom facilities and a refreshments stall.

In addition, the municipality has renovated the local youth club and improved basic infrastructure in the surrounding neighbourhood.

Although local residents still regard the complex as “visual pollution”, they said they are taking a greater part in the development of the historical neighbourhood, an urban centre as far back as 8000BC.

Activists have expressed concern that the area adjacent to the new car park, where residents have held barbecues, football matches and parties for decades, will be fenced off.

GAM Director of Special Projects Bashar Haddaden stressed that rather than being cordoned off, the area will be converted into a “controlled plaza” and will be open to the public during the day.

“It will be treated as any other park, and will only close if there are special events,” he said.

A major source of contention that remains between the sides is the proposed funicular, an inclined railway to ferry passengers from King Talal Street opposite the Roman Amphitheatre to the Citadel.

The originally proposed path would have led to the demolition of four buildings constructed between 1940 and 1960, according to activists.

After discussions with local residents, however, the route was altered so that only one building, which houses two families, will be affected, according to Jabal Al Qalaa Mukhtar (community leader) Faras Zawawneh.

During meetings between GAM and the community council, however, senior municipality officials previously pledged that “not a single building will be demolished”, he claimed.

Raghda Butros, who heads Hamzet Wasel, a citizen-based local community support organisation in the neighbourhood, also expressed concern, noting that GAM “promised not to demolish a single historical building”, she said.

Ali Suleiman said he has been “unofficially” informed that his home lies in the path of the new route of the funicular, and will be demolished.

“This is the only home I know. I would urge strongly against displacing anyone in this community,” said the 31-year-old, who has lived in Jabal Al Qalaa for three decades, stressing that he would be unable to find a new residence at a low rent close to his work.

Fears surrounding the funicular project, estimated to cost some $5-6 million, are unfounded as the project is still under review and has yet to be finalised, according to Hadadeen.

He refused to elaborate on whether there is a “no building demolition” policy, but stressed that the municipality is working to arrive at a solution that meets the project’s objective and has the smallest impact.

“We are currently carrying out a cost-benefit analysis to weigh the losses and gains of different locations and it is an ongoing decision process,” he told The Jordan Times.

“When we do decide on a route, people will be included in the process, especially those who would potentially be affected,” he stressed, noting that GAM is carrying out an environmental impact assessment to take the socio-economic impact of the route into account.

The funicular is key to a larger project to revitalise the area and create a unified “downtown Amman experience,” linking the Roman Amphitheatre and shops along King Talal Street, Hadadeen said.

The route seeks to maximise the number of visitors viewing markets and shops in the “neglected” downtown area, he added.

Although Jabal Al Qalaa residents are anxious for tourism development in their area and want to play an active role in GAM’s plans, a lack of funds is hampering their plans

Some residents have expressed interest in starting their own ventures, such as selling traditional Arab ice cream, calligraphy and opening cultural cafés.

“People in Jabal Al Qalaa just don’t have the money… they are worried about paying for their children’s education; how can they open up a restaurant?” Zawawneh said, stressing that the community is open to bringing in local and foreign investors.

Hadadeen noted that available options include a revolving fund for grants and technical assistance, securing assistance from international aid agencies and linking investors and developers with local residents.

Butros said “success stories” are needed to encourage local residents and investors alike.

“There is a lot of potential… many people inside and outside the community are looking to make the place great, but they face the risk of starting something new,” she added, noting that said further work is needed on Salamah Ben Al Akwaa Street and other areas where residents can benefit from developments.

Zawawneh agreed.

“We want to open up our neighbourhood to the world,” he said.

[yazm1991]

Airport road traffic to be diverted to service routes

The Ministry of Public Works and Housing will begin diverting traffic from the airport road to service roads starting next month, a ministry official said on Saturday.

In late December, authorities will divert traffic to a three-kilometre detour starting at the junction between the Ring Road and the airport road, in order to have all traffic using the two-lane service roads as of next summer, the ministry’s secretary general, Sami Halaseh, told The Jordan Times.

The 14-metre wide service roads will become the main route between Amman to the Queen Alia International Airport until construction on the main road is completed, Halaseh, who accompanied Minister of Public Works and Housing Alaa Batayneh on a recent visit to the construction site, added.

The JD70 million project is expected to increase the capacity of the airport road and will provide alternative routes and exits, he added.

Work on the project, which started in December 2008, is well under way, he said, noting that the contractor has already finished all preparations to build the service lanes.

The contractor implementing the first phase of the project is currently working to lay asphalt on the service roads after completing infrastructure work, he added.