The approval of Jordan’s energy sector strategy for 2025–2035 was not a direct result of the current regional crisis, as work on it had begun before these developments. Yet the timing of its adoption gave it added significance, coming at a moment when the region is once again revealing the extent of the vulnerability facing energy-importing countries whenever wars escalate, supply routes are disrupted, and prices rise sharply. In this sense, the strategy derives its importance not as an emergency reaction, but as a proactive framework for dealing with a recurring crisis that takes different forms over time.
اضافة اعلان
Jordan’s core problem lies in its heavy dependence on external sources to meet most of its energy needs, alongside the limited availability of conventional domestic resources. This equation makes the Jordanian economy more exposed to external shocks, whether in terms of the import bill, electricity and transport costs, or pressures on public finances. When a major crisis occurs, as we are experiencing now, its impact does not remain confined to energy markets; it quickly spills over into prices and economic growth, and most importantly, negatively affects living standards.
This is why the strategy appears to be an attempt to address the root of the problem through parallel tracks that include increasing reliance on local sources, raising the contribution of renewable energy, improving consumption efficiency, developing infrastructure, reducing losses, and advancing clean energy projects. This direction matters because it shifts the discussion from managing crises after they occur to reducing exposure to them before they begin.
However, the importance of the strategy will not be measured only by its ability to improve macroeconomic indicators or reduce the burden of imports, but also by the extent to which it directly affects citizens’ lives. One of the most pressing problems today is that the cost of energy consumption for households remains very high, whether in electricity, transport, or the indirect impact reflected in the prices of goods and services. If citizens do not feel that this strategy will gradually lead to lower monthly bills and improved purchasing power, then its value, from their perspective, will remain confined to official rhetoric rather than tangible reality.
From this perspective, it becomes essential that the implementation of the strategy be linked to clear policies aimed at reducing costs for consumers, rather than merely changing the energy mix at the technical level. There is also a need to review customs and tax policies in a way that encourages citizens to purchase electric vehicles, within a balanced vision that makes the transformation of the transport sector part of easing the cost-of-living burden, rather than simply an option for limited groups. Every carefully planned expansion in the use of electric vehicles, alongside more stable electricity that relies on local and renewable sources, can reduce individual transport costs and lower consumption of imported fuel.
At the same time, the strategy should not be approached in a celebratory spirit alone, despite its importance, or regarded as an automatic guarantee of success. The real challenge lies not in formulating goals, but in the ability to achieve them. This requires implementing the strategy through financeable projects, infrastructure capable of accommodating the expansion of renewables and electric transport, and pricing policies that are fairer and more transparent. The success of any energy transition also requires public trust, and that trust does not emerge merely from announcing goals, but from seeing tangible results in bills, service quality, and overall cost.
Ultimately, the energy strategy represents a sound direction because it places the issue of energy security within a long-term framework, rather than limiting it to a short-term response. Its success, however, will remain tied to its ability to link energy security with citizens’ economic security as well. When costs decline and people feel that the energy transition is improving their daily lives, the strategy becomes a genuine public policy rather than merely an ambitious document.
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