Jordan will double the amount of electricity it exports to the Palestinian Authority to 80 megawatts by July through a new substation that is under construction, Electricity Minister Saleh Al Kharabsheh said on Monday.
Mr Al Kharabsheh, speaking in Amman after meeting Thafer Melhem, head of the Palestinian Energy Authority, said the increased volume will help fulfil Jordan's aim of increasing "co-operation with the Palestinian brethren".
The two men earlier toured a $4.1 million Jordanian substation under construction in Al Ramah, north of the Dead Sea, through which the increased electricity exports will flow to the West Bank.
Jordan's current electricity exports to the Palestinian Authority mostly go to the West Bank, meeting about 4 per cent of consumption needs there. The rest is met mostly by imports from Israel.
Jordan has excess electricity production but has struggled to find export markets.
In January, the kingdom signed a deal, supported by the US, to export 250 megawatts to Lebanon through regime-held areas of Syria. The exports were supposed to flow by April but there have been none because Lebanon did not secure World Bank funds to pay for the electricity.
THE BIO
Mr Al Qassimi is 37 and lives in Dubai
He is a keen drummer and loves gardening
His favourite way to unwind is spending time with his two children and cooking
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Who has been sanctioned?
Daniella Weiss and Nachala
Described as 'the grandmother of the settler movement', she has encouraged the expansion of settlements for decades. The 79 year old leads radical settler movement Nachala, whose aim is for Israel to annex Gaza and the occupied West Bank, where it helps settlers built outposts.
Harel Libi & Libi Construction and Infrastructure
Libi has been involved in threatening and perpetuating acts of aggression and violence against Palestinians. His firm has provided logistical and financial support for the establishment of illegal outposts.
Zohar Sabah
Runs a settler outpost named Zohar’s Farm and has previously faced charges of violence against Palestinians. He was indicted by Israel’s State Attorney’s Office in September for allegedly participating in a violent attack against Palestinians and activists in the West Bank village of Muarrajat.
Coco’s Farm and Neria’s Farm
These are illegal outposts in the West Bank, which are at the vanguard of the settler movement. According to the UK, they are associated with people who have been involved in enabling, inciting, promoting or providing support for activities that amount to “serious abuse”.
