 Jordan’s nuclear programme will not hamper shale oil development projects in the Kingdom.
“Oil shale and the nuclear programme are both very much needed to produce electricity, in addition to natural gas,” said Mohammad Hamed, Jordanian Energy Minister.
He said that there is no “conspiracy” against extracting oil shale or producing oil from it, noting that the cost of energy production from oil shale is remarkably lower than the cost of using heavy oil.
“By the end of this year, Royal Dutch Shell Plc., which is one of the companies working to extract shale oil in eastern regions of the Kingdom, will conclude its pilot drilling project in Harraneh,” said Hamed.
He highlighted the importance of the preliminary stage of identifying the amount of shale oil that can be extracted saying that Shell will start heating shale oil based on the results of the first phase. It will do so at a depth of 15 metres and a circle of 14 metres in diameter, which is estimated to provide 240 barrels of oil.
“Shell’s investments in shale oil in Jordan have already reached $200 million, and the second phase, which is expected to produce 600-1,000 barrels, will reach $400-800 million,” he said.
According to Hamed, the Dutch company will decide whether to invest $10 billion based on the results of the second phase.
Jordan’s electricity-generating capacity, which currently stands at 3,200 megawatts (MW), is expected to rise to 4,000MW by the end of this year. The minister noted that shale oil provides uninterrupted power supply unlike renewable energy sources, which typically provide a few hours of power a day.
