Amman – Al-Ghad – The spread of the coronavirus represents a major challenge for most countries around the world, and it also poses a significant challenge to the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. The Government has taken a number of bold and courageous measures to contain the virus and prevent its spread across Jordan.
Although the Attarat oil shale-fired power generation project was still under construction, the management and employees of the Attarat companies raised JOD 100,000 at the end of March and donated the amount to the Ministry of Health as a contribution in support of the Ministry’s efforts to contain the virus.
Following the launch of the Himmat Watan Fund, the Attarat companies once again responded to the Jordanian Government’s call by contributing an additional JOD 100,000 to the Fund, which was established to support efforts to combat the coronavirus. This brought the total contributions made by the Attarat companies to JOD 200,000, reaffirming their continued support for Jordan, particularly during these difficult times.
The Corporate Social Responsibility team of the Attarat companies also responded promptly to a request from the Jordanian Parliament by providing 200 food parcels to daily-wage workers and families in need during these challenging circumstances.
We wish all those infected with the virus a speedy recovery, and we extend our wishes for safety and well-being to patients, the elderly, frontline medical and service teams, and everyone working to combat the spread of the coronavirus.
We are confident that Jordan will prevail in its fight against the coronavirus under the wise leadership of His Majesty King Abdullah II Ibn Al Hussein, and through the efforts of His Excellency Prime Minister Dr. Omar Al-Razzaz.
About the Attarat Companies
The Attarat group of companies consists of Attarat Power Company (APCO), Attarat Mining of Attarat Power Company (APCO), Attarat Mining Company (AMCO), and Attarat Operation and Maintenance Company (OMCO).
APCO is the project company responsible for developing and constructing Jordan’s first power plant using the direct combustion of oil shale. AMCO and OMCO are subsidiaries of APCO responsible for oil shale supply and operation and maintenance services.
The project site is located in the Attarat Umm Ghudran area, approximately 110 km southeast of Amman. The 470 MW (net) oil shale-fired power plant and associated mining operations were under construction, with commercial operations scheduled to commence in 2020.
The project represents Jordan’s largest inward foreign investment, valued at USD 2.1 billion, and is also the largest Chinese project in Jordan under the Belt and Road Initiative. The project provides more than 1,000 long-term employment opportunities for Jordanians. It is also the first project to utilize Jordan’s domestic oil shale resources and is of significant strategic importance to the Kingdom’s energy security, helping reduce Jordan’s dependence on imported gas and oil.