Energy experts emphasized that the government's plan to build two new power generation plants in the Kingdom, each with a capacity of 700 MW, represents an important step toward boosting electricity supply security. However, they stressed that the success of this move must align with an integrated vision that balances traditional generation expansion, renewable energy enhancement, and grid infrastructure development to ensure cost reduction and improve the efficiency of the electrical system.
اضافة اعلان
Previously, the Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources, Dr. Saleh Al-Kharabsheh, announced that the government is working on establishing two power plants with a capacity of 700 MW each to help enhance the reliability of the electrical system and absorb future energy demand.
The former Director General of the National Electric Power Company (NEPCO), Dr. Ahmed Hiyasat, noted that expanding generation capacity has become an actual necessity to keep pace with the continuous growth in electrical loads and maintain the system's reliability and its ability to meet rising demand efficiently.
"Adding about 1,400 MW to the generation system is a positive step that will stabilize the grid and grant it greater flexibility in handling peak loads," Hiyasat said. He stressed the need to plan for the requirements of coming years, expressing confidence that NEPCO continues to conduct studies on load forecasting and generation expansion plans, taking necessary measures to ensure the long-term readiness of the sector.
Hiyasat explained that economic growth, expanding production activities, and climate changes that drive up electricity consumption necessitate the continuous enhancement of system capabilities. He noted that high demand during peak periods, particularly during severe heatwaves, requires providing sufficient generation reserves to ensure uninterrupted supply.
He added, "The benefits of increasing generation capacity are not limited to meeting local demand; they also boost electricity export opportunities. The Kingdom possesses a production surplus during periods when loads drop below peak levels, making it possible to leverage this surplus by selling it to regional markets. This improves the investment efficiency of the electrical infrastructure and generates additional economic returns."
On his part, energy expert Dr. Firas Balasmeh considered that constructing two new plants with a total capacity of 1,400 MW is not merely a traditional expansion of generation capacity, but rather reflects a trend toward reshaping Jordan's energy supply security equation over the coming decade.
He explained that the true value of these projects is measured not by the volume of power added to the system, but by their ability to lower electricity production costs, enhance grid flexibility, increase export opportunities, and accommodate higher shares of renewable energy. At the same time, he warned that these could turn into long-term contractual obligations that burden NEPCO, the economy, and the consumer if they are not designed on sound economic and technical foundations.
Balasmeh pointed out that circulating information indicates one of the two plants is the IPP7 project, which relies on combined-cycle technology and is expected to enter service between 2027 and 2028. Meanwhile, electricity sector indicators point to another project, IPP8, with a similar capacity of approximately 700 MW, executed under the Build-Own-Operate (BOO) system, with electricity sold to NEPCO under a long-term purchase agreement.
He stated that these plants could achieve three main benefits: raising operational reserves and system reliability in the face of demand growth; introducing more efficient generation units that consume less fuel; and providing flexible capabilities that support the grid when solar and wind outputs drop or during sudden load spikes.
Balasmeh stressed that these gains remain tied to how the new plants are integrated into the power grid. He explained that treating them as a substitute for renewable energy would reproduce the traditional model based on increasing generation, whereas they could become part of a strategic solution if used as flexible reserve capacities within an integrated system that includes renewable energy, storage systems, regional electrical interconnection, and smart grid control technologies.
He added, "The new capacities may enhance Jordan's prospects to play a larger regional role in electricity trade. However, this cannot be achieved simply by having a production surplus; it requires completing interconnection projects, securing clear commercial agreements, competitive pricing, and operational stability that guarantees the capacity to export electricity sustainably."
Regarding the impact of these projects on electricity tariffs, Balasmeh explained that it will depend on the nature of the contracts and the plants' operational efficiency. They could help reduce costs if they deliver high efficiency at competitive contractual prices, replace older and fuel-inefficient plants, and are used to support peak loads and boost exports. However, if they involve high capacity charges or long-term purchase obligations that exceed actual needs, they could turn into a financial burden reflected in the tariff.
He emphasized that the upcoming phase requires completing grid infrastructure investments in parallel with generation investments. This includes developing transmission networks, substations, smart control and management systems, smart meters, battery energy storage, load management, time-of-use tariffs, and regional interconnection. He stressed that this integrated framework represents the cornerstone of modern energy security, and that expanding generation alone will not be enough to achieve the strategic goals of the power sector.
Dr. Ahmed Al-Salaymeh, a faculty member at the University of Jordan, said: "The electrical system in Jordan needs to enhance its generation capacities, especially given the continuous annual growth in electricity demand." He noted that loads peak during the summer season, at a time when the efficiency of generation plants drops by about 10% due to high temperatures, which necessitates expanding system capacities to keep pace with these variables.
He added: "The heatwaves witnessed by the Kingdom last year demonstrated the need to enhance the reliability of the electrical system, especially with the drop in output from some renewable energy sources, alongside the challenges faced by the interconnection line with Egypt, which caused disruptions in electricity supply."
He stressed that the expected growth in electricity demand means the current system may not be able to meet future peak needs, making the construction of new power plants an urgent necessity to enhance the system's capacity to produce electricity and meet growing demand.
Al-Salaymeh pointed out that the new generation capacities will also support opportunities to export electricity to neighboring countries, particularly Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, and Palestine. He noted that expanding interconnection projects with Saudi Arabia and Egypt would strengthen the Jordanian power system and raise its capacity for regional energy exchange.
He explained that expanding the electrical system will contribute to increasing the Kingdom's ability to absorb higher percentages of renewable energy, noting that increasing the contribution of solar and wind energy is linked to increasing the size of the electrical system and its capacity to integrate them safely.
Regarding the electricity tariff, Al-Salaymeh suggested that the construction of these plants might not have a direct impact on raising or lowering the tariff. However, he noted that the future implementation of time-of-use tariffs might lead to lower prices during off-peak periods and higher prices during peak times.
He concluded that the new plants will contribute to enhancing the reliability of the electrical system, increasing the share of renewable energy, and raising the capacity to export electricity.
