AMMAN, Jan. 21 (Xinhua) -- Jordan is accelerating its shift to a green economy to deal with high energy costs and water shortages, with Chinese investment playing an important role in the effort.
Officials and analysts said Jordan-China cooperation on green energy is conducive to Jordan's Economic Modernization Vision for 2023-2033, which aims to spur growth, create jobs, and reduce reliance on imported energy.
Environment Minister Ayman Suleiman said the government is taking a "structured and strategic" approach to the transition as it grapples with chronic resource shortages. Measures include industrial energy audits, solar-powered irrigation, electric vehicle infrastructure, and training programs for green skills.
Chinese companies have become major partners in the effort. Firas Blasmeh, a member of the Jordanian energy and environment association, said Chinese firms are increasingly active across the sector, from renewable power projects to equipment supply and electric transport.
"They combine technical expertise with flexible financing and fast execution," Blasmeh said.
The Ministry of Environment estimates Jordan's green economy already supports between 74,000 and 95,000 jobs in sectors including water management, agriculture, and tourism.
Energy analyst Hashem Aqel said Chinese investment in Jordan's green energy sector has increased rapidly, largely focused on solar power.
Aqel said the partnerships are helping Jordan expand renewable energy and pursue its goal of becoming a regional hub for clean power and green hydrogen, strengthening its energy independence.
One of the largest Chinese investors in the kingdom is China Three Gorges Asia-Africa, which operates wind and solar projects in the country with a combined capacity of about 193 megawatts.
Country manager Mohammad Abu Atieh said the company acquired four solar projects in June 2023 totaling 41.8 megawatts, and has signed a memorandum of understanding with the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources to study green hydrogen projects, including the possible production of 200,000 tonnes of green ammonia annually using renewable energy.
Abu Atieh said about 80 percent of the company's workforce in Jordan is local, adding projects such as the Shobak wind farm in southern Jordan have helped transfer technical and managerial expertise to Jordanian engineers through daily cooperation with Chinese teams. ■
