(MENAFN- Jordan News Agency)

Amman, October 30 (Petra) – Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources and Chairman of the Board of Directors of Jordan Renewable Energy & Energy Efficiency Fund (JREEEF), Dr. Saleh Kharabsheh, and Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Jordan Hotels Association (JHA), Osama Madanat, on Thursday signed a cooperation agreement to implement a comprehensive energy efficiency and conservation program.
The agreement aims to increase "competitiveness" of Jordan's hotels and the tourist sector by reducing operating costs, including energy costs.
Under the program, energy audits on Jordan's hotel establishments will be conducted and outcomes will be then implemented.
Talking at the signing ceremony, Kharabsheh said the JREEEF is continuing its efforts to implement its future projects in the fields of renewable energy and energy efficiency across all vital sectors, including residential, tourism, education, industrial, municipal, and hospital sectors.
The minister added that the JREEEF is also implementing specialized training programs in renewable energy, contributing to achieving the Kingdom's energy and sustainable development goals.
The minister cited a "significant" opportunity for economic and service establishments in both the public and private sectors to rationalize energy consumption.
Studies conducted by the JREEEF indicate that Jordan's energy intensity index is considerably high, exceeding the global average by 20-25%, he pointed out.
Kharabsheh added that implementing energy conservation and efficiency measures should precede installation of renewable energy systems, as their costs are lower and the payback period does not exceed four years.
For his part, Osama Mdanat, JHA Vice Chairman, praised this JREEEF "comprehensive" program to support the hotel sector, which will "significantly" contribute to reducing energy costs for hotels, whose operations have recently been affected by regional events.
Mdanat indicated that the JHA will cooperate with the JREEEF to reach all hotels and promote this important program in all governorates.
He added that energy audit studies will "remarkably" contribute to achieving efficiency and reducing energy costs for hotels, which will directly translate into providing better services to citizens.
In turn, JREEEF Executive Director, Rasmi Hamza, noted this agreement reflects the Fund's vision to expand its programs to include the tourism sector, a "cornerstone" of the national economy.
The JREEEF, he stated, will cover 100% of the energy audit costs, in addition to subsidizing bank interest and guaranteeing loans to cover the implementation of the study's recommendations and outcomes.
Noting success of previous phases implemented in Petra and Aqaba, he said these stages achieved the desired results, with savings in energy bills reaching 40-60%, which contributed to increasing "competitiveness" of these hotels and reducing their energy costs.

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