Cabinet Approves Steel Pipe Plant For Water Carrier, Gas Projects

AMMAN - The Cabinet, during a session chaired by Prime Minister Jafar Hassan on Sunday, approved the establishment of a steel pipe manufacturing and coating plant as part of preparations to begin implementing the National Water Carrier Project.

The plant will allocate 50 per cent of its pipe production to the project, while its products will also be used in future water, gas transmission and pumping projects, with the JD120-million facility expected to create around 420 job opportunities for Jordanians, according to a Prime Ministry statement.

The plant will include sections for manufacturing, coating and protecting steel pipes in line with international specifications.

A memorandum of understanding would be signed between the National Water Carrier Project Company, the project companies' consortium and the Perma-Welspun consortium to proceed with the plant's establishment.

The government will provide the necessary facilitation, including permits and licences, expedited customs procedures and connections to public services.

The plant is expected to support the industrial sector, attract investment and create employment opportunities, while supplying locally manufactured, high-quality steel pipes for future projects in Jordan and abroad, in line with the objectives of the Economic Modernisation Vision.

The Cabinet also approved adding an organ donation service to the Sanad application to encourage and facilitate organ donation.

The service will enable citizens to digitally register their willingness to donate organs, access relevant information and confirm their decision in accordance with approved procedures, with the registration also reflected in relevant family book records.

On social services, the Council of Ministers set October 1 as the start date for the 2026 Population and Housing Census, which will continue until October 31.

The census aims to provide updated, comprehensive and accurate data on the Kingdom's population and housing, serving as a basis for planning, policymaking and decision-making.

According to the Department of Statistics' (DoS) plan, the first three days of October will be dedicated to electronic self-enumeration through a link sent via the Sanad application to individuals who previously registered their willingness to complete their data electronically.

This will be followed by field enumeration involving around 12,000 staff from DoS, teachers from the Ministry of Education and employees of participating institutions, to ensure that all households and dwellings across the Kingdom are covered.

The census will provide data to help public institutions identify needs and plan services and projects in sectors including education, health, housing, transport, infrastructure and public services. It will be conducted using modern digital systems and trained field teams.

The census will cover all citizens and residents, with DoS stressing the importance of using the self-enumeration option and cooperating with field researchers after verifying their official identification, while all information provided will remain strictly confidential.

The Cabinet also approved the 2026 Administrative Organisation Bylaw of the Department of the Chief Justice, as part of efforts to modernise and develop the institution and support the National Digital Transformation Strategy.

The bylaw aims to enhance Sharia judicial services, institutional capacities, digital transformation and governance, while improving service quality and institutional performance.

The Council of Ministers also approved the 2026 Administrative Organisation Bylaw of the Petra Development and Tourism Region Authority.

The bylaw aims to improve administrative and organisational procedures, enhance institutional efficiency and enhance governance, transparency and accountability, while ensuring the optimal use of human, financial and technical resources.

It is also expected to enhance administrative efficiency and support sustainable tourism development in Petra, while improving visitor services, strengthening coordination among organisational units and boosting Petra's competitiveness as a global tourist destination.

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