US awards grant for development of Jordan's oil shale resources

Washington (Platts)--24Jan2006

The US Trade and Development Agency Monday awarded Jordan a grant to help
it develop its oil shale resources to spur economic growth in rural regions
and to reduce the Middle Eastern country's dependence on imported oil. 

     The $310,000 technical assistance grant will be used to analyze current
oil shale extraction and recovery technologies and apply the best
international expertise to the development of an oil shale industry in Jordan,
TDA said in a statement. 

     Specifically, the grant will fund technical assistance to the Jordanian
Ministry of Energy in establishing a short- and long-term strategy for
developing the nation's oil shale deposits. US companies interested in
providing that technical assistance are asked to submit proposals to TDA. The
grant also will help Jordan implement near-term actions leading to the
commercial production of its oil shale resources, TDA said.

     Jordan currently is dependent on imported crude oil and petroleum
products to meet its energy needs, which total about 75,000 b/d. Because of
rising oil costs and an interest in becoming energy self-sufficient, Amman is
pursuing the development of its 24 known surface oil shale deposit, which
contain more than 50-bil mt of geological reserves, TDA said.

		--Cathy Landry, cathy_landry@platts.com

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