Jordan Signs Oil Shale MOU With Russian Company
Jordan’s Natural Resources Authority (NRA) and Russia’s Inter Rao Ues on 11 May signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to carry out a study on open cast oil shale exploration in the Bayer region in southern Jordan. Over the two-year period of the MOU, the Russian company will undertake a comprehensive exploration program and prepare feasibility and technical studies. The two sides will sign a commercial agreement for exploitation of the oil shale if the project is viable.
Meanwhile, the Jordanian government announced on 12 May its approval of the final draft of an agreement for oil shale development with Shell, due to be signed in the near future (MEES, 23 March). According to Jordanian Minister of State for Media Affairs and Communications Nabil Sharif, the draft agreement includes three phases – exploration, evaluation and design. Jordan has some 40bn tons of oil shale in 21 locations for exploitation, according to NRA and the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources.
Copyright MEES 2009.
