The Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Ministry of Social Development to provide electricity to low-income individuals.

The Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources, Saleh Al-Kharabsheh, signed the agreement with the Minister of Social Development Wafa Bani Mustafa, facilitating electricity access on the expense of the Countryside Tax (one Fils per kWh) for all eligible low-income individuals. This initiative aligns with the Ministry of Development's conditions, ensuring no financial burdens on beneficiaries.

Al-Kharabsheh highlighted the strategic collaboration between both ministries to expand electricity services via the Countryside Tax, reaching a 99.9 percent overall availability throughout the kingdom.

He commended the Ministry of Development efforts in addressing the needs of targeted groups, emphasizing the MoU’s goal of improving services and meeting citizens' needs.

Wafa Bani Mustafa, Minister of Social Development, emphasized the significance of this MoU for families in need, and the ministry's pivotal role in social protection and services for those requiring easy electricity delivery.

Hisham Al-Momani, Director at the Ministry of Energy, detailed the agreement, noting a maximum cost of JD 3,000 per beneficiary location. Conditions include ownership of the residence, limitations on land value, and restrictions on building costs, with exceptions considered for special circumstances and individuals with disabilities. These exceptions are subject to study by the Ministry of Social Development.

Electricity will be provided through the Countryside Tax to homes outside boundaries of the organization, utilizing solar power units as an independent system, and will incur a cost of up to JD 4,000 per beneficiary location, aligning with the principles and procedures set by the Ministry of Energy.

The agreement outlines service conditions, ensuring coordination with the Ministry of Social Development and specifying that eligible beneficiaries must not own another house, avoid encroaching on state lands, and that the financial cost for electricity delivery through the regular electrical network should not be less than JD 10,000.

The agreement facilitates electronic information exchange between the Ministries of Energy and Social Development and the beneficiaries. It designates liaison officers to oversee electricity connection transactions, adhering to the specified conditions. The agreement also promotes knowledge transfer through the exchange of brochures and studies.

Eligible beneficiaries can benefit from the service by submitting an official letter from the Ministry of Social Development to the Ministry of Energy within one month of the application submission date. This letter should be accompanied by the mentioned incentives for each category. Projects for electricity connection, as outlined in the memorandum of understanding, are executed through competitive bidding for local specialized companies, fostering investment and contributing to employment opportunities for Jordanian citizens. Since 2015, 102 beneficiaries have benefited from projects installing solar energy systems not connected to the electrical grid, with a total cost of JD 136,000.