Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources Karim Badawi and Jordanian Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Saleh Al Kharabsheh discussed on Sunday, July 12, 2026, ways to strengthen bilateral cooperation in the energy and mining sectors and expand the strategic partnership between the two countries through joint investment projects serving their shared economic interests.
During their meeting in Amman, the two ministers focused on plans to expand natural gas projects. Kharabsheh announced that Jordan is close to signing two agreements with Egyptian companies to implement natural gas distribution projects in the cities of Ma'an and Al Muwaqqar, while work continues on gas supply projects in Mafraq and Zarqa.
The projects aim to support the industrial sector, reduce energy costs and enhance the competitiveness of Jordanian industry, he said. Kharabsheh highlighted the importance of benefiting from Egypt's expertise in developing and operating natural gas networks, noting that expanding gas use in industrial cities is a key step toward supporting economic activity and improving energy efficiency.
He added that Jordan is working to expand natural gas use across various sectors, particularly industry, to lower production costs and improve the competitiveness of Jordanian products. He described Jordanian-Egyptian relations as a leading model of Arab cooperation, particularly in the energy sector, noting that the achievements realized in recent years provide a strong foundation for launching a new phase of strategic projects with sustainable economic impact in line with the directives of both countries' leaderships and efforts to promote Arab economic integration.
The ministers also discussed opportunities for cooperation in ammonia and green hydrogen production projects, as well as natural gas-based industries. Badawi noted that Egypt has extensive expertise in these fields, pointing out that the country operates eight ammonia production plants and is adopting advanced production technologies, creating opportunities for joint Egyptian-Jordanian projects.
Both sides stressed the importance of maximizing the economic value of natural gas by expanding value-added industries, developing an integrated vision for energy infrastructure, and securing advance purchase agreements to ensure the economic viability and sustainability of investment projects.
The talks further addressed prospects for cooperation in the mining sector, including the development of phosphate-based and mineral industries, the exchange of expertise in exploration and geological services and the establishment of joint mining projects and related value chains to increase the added value of natural resources and boost the sector's contribution to economic development.