Al-Tahrawi to Radio Al-Balad: Jordan holds resources far beyond what many imagine
Jordan’s gas sector: reserves may reach tens of trillions of cubic feet
Al-Risha field: a national success story with production expected to rise
Sarhan and Jafr: hopes pinned on promising oil discoveries
Oil shale: a strategic treasure stretching across vast areas of the Kingdom
Silica and basalt: surface resources before those underground
Copper, gold, and lithium: minerals that could reshape the economic landscape
Why are Jordan’s resources not being properly invested?
Al-Tahrawi: dissolving the Natural Resources Authority weakened exploration capacity
Jordanian global expertise… and local capabilities that need activation
Investment in mining and energy: between opportunities and challenges
Resources capable of reducing debt and boosting public revenues
Could Jordan become a future gas-exporting country?
Calls to rebuild geological exploration institutions
A historic opportunity for the Jordanian economy
Al-Tahrawi: if we properly invest our resources, we will become among the region’s wealthiest countries

Energy and oil expert Eng. Mubarak Al-Tahrawi stated in remarks to Radio Al-Balad that Jordan possesses vast reserves of gas, oil, and minerals that have not been exploited in line with their true potential, stressing that scientifically and well-planned utilization of these resources could bring a fundamental transformation to the national economy and place the Kingdom among the region’s wealthier states.

Al-Tahrawi said: “Jordan has gas resources far greater than we imagine, oil resources that are coming, God willing, and mineral wealth capable of making us one of the richest Arab countries. If we invest properly, the Jordanian passport itself could become a dream for many,” emphasizing that the Kingdom has the necessary capabilities to achieve such an economic shift if the right political will and executive planning are in place.

The prominent Jordanian oil and gas expert opened the file on natural resources in the Kingdom, presenting an alternative narrative to the commonly held view that Jordan is poor in natural resources.

In his appearance on the program “Your Voice is Heard” on Radio Al-Balad, Al-Tahrawi stressed that Jordan is rich in mineral and energy resources, much of which remains unexploited or insufficiently explored and developed to turn it into productive economic projects.

He noted that Jordan’s resource wealth is not limited to oil and gas, but also includes strategic minerals and raw materials of growing global importance, such as silica, basalt, kaolin, feldspar, copper, gold, uranium, and lithium, in addition to vast reserves of oil shale.

He said Jordanian silica sand is among the highest quality globally and is used in advanced strategic industries, including electronics, semiconductors, and microchips, alongside dozens of fast-growing industrial sectors worldwide.

He added that basalt, which is widely distributed across Jordanian territory, represents an important industrial resource that could serve as a foundation for advanced manufacturing industries, while the Kingdom also holds massive oil shale reserves extending from the Al-Risha area in the east to the Al-Sarhan region, containing significant quantities of unconventional oil and gas.

Massive gas reserves

On natural gas, Al-Tahrawi revealed that available studies suggest potential unconventional gas reserves exceeding 60 trillion cubic feet, with some estimates reaching around 90 trillion cubic feet.

He explained that these estimates do not include conventional reserves from the Al-Risha field, meaning Jordan’s total gas resources could be significantly larger than currently disclosed.

He confirmed that the Al-Risha basin alone represents a major national success story, noting that studies estimating around 14 trillion cubic feet of gas cover only a limited portion of the geological basin, which constitutes less than a quarter of its total area.

He said expanding exploration and studies across the entire basin could multiply estimated reserves by three or four times the current figures.

He added that development of the Al-Risha field is progressing through practical steps, with dozens of new wells being drilled to increase domestic gas production in the coming years.

According to Al-Tahrawi, current production from Al-Risha has reached about 80 million cubic feet per day, compared to significantly lower levels in previous years, and is expected to rise to around 400 million cubic feet per day or more in the coming period once development plans are completed.

Al-Sarhan and Al-Jafr: promising oil prospects

Regarding oil, Al-Tahrawi described the Al-Sarhan and Al-Jafr regions as among the most promising areas for exploration in the Kingdom.

He pointed to recent three-dimensional seismic surveys conducted by the Ministry of Energy, describing them as a major step forward compared to earlier two-dimensional studies.

He stressed that geological indicators are encouraging, but emphasized the importance of conducting drilling and exploration based on precise scientific foundations, noting that successful oil projects depend on high-quality preliminary studies, proper well placement, and sound engineering design.

Strategic minerals awaiting investment

On mining, Al-Tahrawi said Jordan has exceptional opportunities to benefit from the growing global demand for strategic minerals needed for the green transition and modern technology and energy industries.

He highlighted promising indications of copper in the Abu Khusheiba area, as well as the possibility of associated high-value minerals, including gold.

He also pointed to lithium, which has become increasingly important in electric vehicle industries and energy storage systems, noting that Jordan shows positive indicators of commercially viable quantities in the southern regions.

Call to rebuild exploration institutions

Al-Tahrawi argued that one of the main challenges facing the exploitation of Jordan’s natural resources is the absence of a dedicated national institution that previously managed exploration and geological studies.

He said the dissolution of the Natural Resources Authority in 2012 led to the loss of important national expertise and technical capacity in managing oil, gas, and mining sectors, calling for the rebuilding of a specialized national framework capable of leading exploration and development efforts.

He emphasized that Jordan has highly qualified engineers and geologists with strong regional and international reputations, but what is needed is an institutional environment that enables the effective use of these capabilities in serving the national economy.

A historic economic opportunity

Al-Tahrawi concluded by stressing that the issue of natural resources is not limited to oil or gas production, but represents a comprehensive national project that could impact economic growth, job creation, investment, and public revenues.

He said Jordan stands at a historic opportunity to benefit from its natural resources, adding that successful exploitation could lead to a major economic transformation over the coming decades if managed through a long-term strategic vision based on science, expertise, and sound planning.