AMMAN, Jan. 21 (Xinhua) -- Jordan announced on Tuesday that it gave initial approval to build a petroleum refinery and petrochemicals complex in the south of the country.
Jordanian Energy Ministry Spokesperson Mashhour Abu Eid said that the daily capacity of the project stands at about 150,000 barrels which will be produced for exportation, according to a statement by the ministry, a copy of which was obtained by Xinhua.
The initial approval stipulates that the project should abide by proper technical and financial guidelines without requiring the government to present any guarantees to secure raw materials for the refining process.
The terms also exempt the government from any financial and contract obligations as a result of granting the approval and licenses for the project, he added.
Currently, there is only one refinery in Jordan. The country is working on a joint project with Iraq to build an oil pipeline from Iraq's Basra to Jordan's Aqaba to export the Iraqi oil to Egypt and then to African markets. Enditem
