Prepared by:Batir Wardam

Environmental Researcher

W o r k s h o p o n t h e G e r m a n y E n e r g y T r a n s i t i o n a n d i t s i m p a c t s o n J o r d a n

A m m a n 2 5 S e p t e m b e r 2 0 1 2

Does the German Transition has any effect on Jordan?

What is there to compare?

Item Germany Jordan

GDP 37,900 5767

HDI Rank 9 95

Energy security

33% 3%

Share of Renewable

20% 1%

Jordan imports 96% of its national energy mix from outside sources

This translates to around 20% of GDP and puts a heavy burden on the public budget which is already constrained by running costs and subsidies.

Energy (in)security

In 2011 about 80% of electricity generated in Jordan was based on natural gas imports from Egypt.

The Arab Spring was an Energy Winter for Jordan. Explosions cut-off Natural gas.

Jordan switched to imported fuel at an additional cost of 2.2 million USD per day.

The equation is very clear for any political decision maker. Jordan is in dire need of indigenous energy supply.

Should you go to renewable or nuclear energy or oil shale?

Jordan is currently looking at having 10% of its energy mix generated from renewable sources by the year 2020 and 6% from nuclear.

Uneven approach

Nuclear energy: strong political support, an independent commission with high budget and quick procurement/regulatory actions.

Renewable: no political will, weak decision-making process, neglect for private sector, long regulatory process, and very minor budget.

Renewable energy Sale Directive 2012

First text: a cap of 25% of feed-in of renewable energy from private and commercial/industrial sources into national grid. WHY?

The second modified text removed cap from private entities but maintained the cap on commercial/industrial.

Not an investment-friendly regulation.

Impact on the solar vs nuclear debate

The German case of a gradual phase-out of the nuclear energy and strategic shifting into sustainable alternative was widely cited by legislators, politicians, activists, journalists, and researchers who oppose the Jordanian nuclear programme.

In an internal memo submitted by the energy committee in the Jordanian Parliament, the committee cited the German experience as a major reason for showing how the world is moving away from nuclear energy into more sustainable alternatives.

EDAMA, the most prominent NGO working in energy policy, technology and advocacy fields in Jordan jointly organised with HbF in 2011 a seminar in which Mycle Sneider, a prominent German expert showed to a large and enthusiastic audience how Germany has articulated its path towards full transition to renewables.

The main political party in Jordan, the Islamic Action Front, also cited the German example in its numerous statements against the Jordanian nuclear programme and in favor of the renewable energy agenda.

What can Germany provide?

Long Term Vision.

Energy diversification.

Support for Renewable energy.

Phase out of nuclear energy.

Political Will.

State of the art technology

Democracy, transparency, disclosure and debate

Sustainable Transport

Germany as a “neutral” partner

The German government has always kept a “low-profile” approach towards influencing internal policies in Jordan, and thus has not raised the issue of renewable vs. nucleardebate to the Jordanian government.

German NGOs have been more active in pursuing a pro-renewable approach with their development partners in Jordan and have succeeded in raising awareness at the community and society levels

The German model of transition to renewables is the most effective tool the Jordanian activists can use to convince their government of the economic and environmental feasibility of such a transition. More exchange of knowledge, experiences and even direct influence should be accelerated to facilitate the energy transition process in Jordan.