Jordan’s Ministry Of Energy And Social Development Collaborate To Expand ‘Rural Dinar’ Program For Inclusive Electricity Access

In a significant move towards addressing energy accessibility for low-income individuals, Dr. Saleh Al-Kharabsheh, Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources, and Wafa Bani Mustafa, Minister of Social Development, joined forces by signing a memorandum of understanding. The collaboration aims to provide electricity to eligible segments of low-income households through the “Rural Dinar” program, aligning with the Ministry of Social Development’s social protection strategy.

Minister Al-Kharabsheh emphasized that this agreement is part of the strategic plans of both ministries to broaden the reach of citizens benefiting from electricity delivery under the “Rural Dinar” program. Acknowledging the Ministry of Social Development’s efforts in social protection, he stated that the goal is to reduce the burden on deserving families and meet the increasing demand for electricity delivery. This includes serving citizens within regulated boundaries through conventional power grids and homes located outside these boundaries through solar power units as an independent system.

The agreement aims to regulate and monitor transactions for citizens meeting specified conditions, ensuring optimal performance in serving these segments. Minister Al-Kharabsheh highlighted that the percentage of electricity beneficiaries has reached 99.9% nationwide.

Minister Wafa Bani Mustafa emphasized the importance of inter-ministerial cooperation in providing services to economically disadvantaged families. This collaboration aligns with the national strategy for social protection and extends beyond the Ministry of Social Development to include all government institutions. She highlighted the agreement’s significance in providing an easy and simplified electricity delivery service for needy families.

Hisham Al-Momani, Director of the Electricity and Rural Electrification Department at the Ministry of Energy, provided details on the agreement’s conditions. The cost for delivering electricity to homes within regulated boundaries through conventional power grids is capped at 3,000 Jordanian Dinars per beneficiary site. Conditions include ownership of the dwelling, meeting construction cost limits, and considerations for less fortunate areas.

For homes outside regulated boundaries using solar power units, the cost is a maximum of 4,000 Jordanian Dinars per beneficiary site. The agreement outlines conditions for service delivery in coordination with the Ministry of Social Development, ensuring efficient and affordable electricity access.

The signed agreement facilitates electronic information exchange between the two ministries and beneficiaries. It designates liaison officers to monitor electricity delivery transactions under the “Rural Dinar” account and encourages knowledge transfer through newsletters and studies.

Eligible beneficiaries meeting the service conditions can apply for the service through an official letter from the Ministry of Social Development to the Ministry of Energy. Projects will be implemented through competitive tendering for local specialized companies, contributing to job opportunities for Jordanian citizens. Since 2015, 102 beneficiaries have benefited from solar power installation projects, not connected to the electrical grid, with a financial cost of 136,000 Jordanian Dinars.