AMMAN, JORDAN - (September 25, 2002) Earlier today, the U.S. Trade and Development Agency (TDA) awarded a $250,000 grant to the Jordanian Ministry of Planning to partially fund technical assistance to develop a second independent power project (IPP) in Jordan. The Jordanian Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources will cover the remaining cost of developing the project.

The U.S. Ambassador to Jordan, Edward W. Gnehm, signed an agreement conferring the grant, on behalf of the U.S. Government and TDA, in the presence of U.S. Commercial Attache Rick Ortiz. His Excellency Dr. Bassem Awadallah, Jordanian Minister of Planning, signed the grant agreement on behalf of the Jordanian Government. Also participating in the signing ceremony was His Excellency Eng. Mohammad Batayneh, Jordanian Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources.

Increasing electrical supply is a high priority for Jordan. Jordan's mining and industrial sectors are heavy consumers of electric power, and are growing rapidly. Similarly, domestic electricity demand continues to expand. The Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources has recognized the need to keep pace with this growing demand, and is proceeding with a variety of expansion projects. Key to these plans will be the development of a second IPP in Jordan. The TDA grant signed today will provide partial funding for K&M; Engineering and Consulting Corporation, a U.S. energy consulting firm located in Arlington, Virginia, to assist the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources in the design, tender, and negotiation of Jordan's second IPP.

In addition to the grant agreement signed today, TDA awarded grants in Jordan during 2002 to be used by the Ministry of Information and Communications Technology to support the liberalization of Jordan's fixed-line telecommunications services, and two others to be used by the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources and the Civil Aviation Authority. TDA provided a special grant to the Ministry of Information and Communications Technology in Jordan at the end of 2001 to examine market liberalization in the wireless sector.

The U.S. Trade and Development Agency promotes American private sector participation in developing and middle-income countries, with special emphasis on economic sectors that represent significant U.S. export potential. By funding various forms of technical assistance, training grants, feasibility studies, conferences, orientation visits, and business workshops, TDA helps American businesses compete for infrastructure projects in emerging markets. In addition, the agency promotes capacity building initiatives and supports U.S. Government trade, economic policy and development objectives around the world.

Back to Press Releases