1. Does the German Transition
has any effect on Jordan?
P rep ared by:
B at i r Ward am
E n v i ron men t al R es earc her
Workshop on the Germany Energy Transition
and its impacts on Jordan
Amman 25 September 2012
2. What is there to compare?
Item Germany Jordan
GDP 37,900 5767
HDI Rank 9 95
Energy 33% 3%
security
Share of 20% 1%
Renewable
3. 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.
4. 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.
5. 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.
6. 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.
7. 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.
8. 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.
9. 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.
10. 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.
11. 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.
12. 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
13. 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. nuclear
debate 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
14. 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.
