Rural Electrification Fund Powers 238 Homes And Sites In June Expansion

(MENAFN- Jordan News Agency)

Amman, June 25 (Petra) -- The Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources announced the expansion of its rural electrification program in June, with 238 homes and locations connected to the national power grid at a total cost of JD 542,000, through the Rural Electrification Fund.
The decision was approved by the fund's high-level steering committee, chaired by Minister of Energy Saleh Kharabsheh, as part of the government's ongoing efforts to extend electricity access to underserved communities and support economic activities in rural areas.
The committee endorsed a package of new projects targeting residential clusters, agricultural operations, and productive enterprises. These initiatives fall within the framework of recent amendments to the criteria for providing electricity beyond regulatory boundaries.
Hisham Al-Momani, Director of the Electricity and Rural Electrification Department, outlined the details of the approved projects. Among them were residential clusters of five homes outside planning zones, with a total budget of JD 238,000. Other allocations included JD 105,000 for clusters of three homes, JD 28,000 for individual homes near existing networks, and JD 8,000 for low-income households located within regulated areas and utility company jurisdictions.
The committee also approved JD 12,000 in funding to electrify agricultural farms including poultry, livestock, and fish farms located in designated poverty pockets outside regulatory boundaries, aligning with national efforts to enhance agricultural productivity and self-reliance.
An additional JD 2,000 was allocated to install lighting along roads leading to cemeteries, aimed at facilitating nighttime burials.
To support local employment, the committee approved JD 18,000 for productive, industrial, and investment projects situated outside planning zones and within development areas, contingent on creating job opportunities for local Jordanians.
The fund also designated JD 24,000 to support farms with artesian wells outside regulated areas, reinforcing the government's commitment to agricultural sustainability and food security.
Further, JD 12,000 was allocated to upgrade the capacity of transformer stations built over the past decade, a step aimed at improving electricity quality and reducing technical losses.
In the renewable energy sector, the committee approved the installation of grid-connected solar power systems for 95 homes belonging to families receiving assistance from the National Aid Fund. The initiative is designed to ease the monthly electricity burden and improve income levels among low-income households.

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