The idea of “free electricity” in a country burdened by chronic financial pressures may sound like a far-fetched luxury. However, global experiences and economic realities suggest that investing in renewable energy, particularly solar and wind, is not only feasible but increasingly cheaper and more sustainable than traditional energy sources.
اضافة اعلان
Jordan, like many energy-importing countries, currently spends large sums on electricity subsidies and energy imports. With a strategic shift, these funds could be redirected to building a national renewable energy infrastructure with near-zero operational costs. Over time, this would allow electricity to be provided at minimal or even zero cost, especially for critical sectors like healthcare and education.
This notion is no longer just theoretical. In a recent and symbolic move, the Jordanian government held a Cabinet session in the Tafileh Industrial City, where it announced a series of economic decisions. Most notable among them was the three-year exemption from electricity charges for newly registered or established factories and companies. While the initiative targets the industrial sector, it signals a deeper strategic shift in how the state views energy, development, and its relationship with citizens.
So, the question arises:
Can electricity become free for Jordanians?
It’s a bold and provocative question, but worth serious discussion. Jordan enjoys one of the world’s highest solar exposure rates, and has ample natural resources to become a leader in renewable energy production. Why not launch a national initiative to provide low-cost or free energy, at least as a social right for vulnerable and essential sectors?
With a new government led by Prime Minister Dr. Jaafar Hassan, known for its reformist agenda and commitment to partnership and results, this conversation becomes even more relevant. Recent Cabinet decisions—from cutting industrial land prices to 5 JD per square meter, to allowing cheaper truck imports and settling contractor dues—show this is a government of action, not rhetoric.
Tafileh, once a quiet southern governorate, could now become the launchpad for a national economic and social model. If the free-electricity experiment boosts local industry, creates jobs, and drives growth, why not expand it to Karak, Ma’an, Mafraq, Irbid, and beyond?
In conclusion, the government isn’t expected to provide free electricity tomorrow. But it must believe in the dream, and in the power of scientific planning and clean energy investment to make it a reality. Nations that lead their people into the future often begin with a single brave step—and perhaps, Tafileh was that step.
