Jordan and Syria sign energy co-operation agreements

Jordan and Syria signed two minutes of understanding paving the way for closer co-operation in oil and natural gas exploration and energy sharing.
The agreements allow for the use of Syrian expertise in oil and gas exploration in Jordan and envisages swift measures for linking the two countries' electrical grid later this year as part of a regional project already under way.
The two sides agreed to overcome difficulties impeding progress in the power sharing projects and to speed up work on these projects to be completed before the end of October, and they have also decided to finalise the agreement on bilateral electricity grid linkage before the end of September.
Jordanian Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Sulayman Abu Ulaym and Syrian electricity and energy officials signed the accords in a ceremony in Damascus. Under the agreements, joint technical committees will be meeting intensively in the future to carry joint projects in oil exploration and energy sharing. There will be joint permanent workshops during the period of implementation. Such workshops are designed to promote technical training and encourage the exchange of expertise in power generation and maintenance of power stations and improving their efficiency. According to the memo on oil and mineral resources, the two sides agreed to exchange information and expertise in exploring oil and other mineral resources, geological maps, seismic and geological studies and high tech applied in the field of geology.
They also agreed to establish joint investment companies that will launch joint ventures to exploit natural resources.