Jordan’s Qatrana Cement Company is preparing for a significant energy transition after signing an agreement with the National Advanced Natural Gas Company (Watani) to supply compressed natural gas (CNG) to the Al‑Qatrana cement plant starting in 2027. Experts say the move will cut emissions, improve energy efficiency and strengthen the competitiveness of Jordan’s industrial sector.
The agreement forms part of the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources’ national programme to expand Jordan’s natural gas network, diversify industrial energy sources and enhance long‑term security of supply. By replacing heavy fuel oil with natural gas, the plant is expected to reduce combustion‑related emissions by 27–30%, according to Zeina Hamdan, Executive Director of the Awraq Foundation for Environmental Development.
Environmental specialists note that the shift should be viewed as a transitional step within a broader decarbonisation strategy. Hamdan said the switch will improve air quality and environmental performance, but should be accompanied by investments in renewable energy, alternative fuels, production efficiency and low‑carbon technologies. She pointed to international examples, such as Denmark’s cement industry, which has gradually reduced reliance on fossil fuels while expanding alternative fuels and carbon capture technologies.
Duraid Mahasneh, Chairman of the EDAMA Association for Energy, Water and Environment, highlighted three key advantages of the transition:
- Economic benefits, as natural gas is a local, non‑imported fuel that reduces costs and increases national added value;
- Energy security, by lowering exposure to volatility in global fuel markets;
- Environmental gains, through significantly lower emissions compared to heavy fuel oil and diesel.
Mahasneh added that the move could encourage other industrial facilities to adopt natural gas, especially if paired with accelerated investment in renewable energy for transport and electricity generation.
Omar Shoshan, Chairman of the Environmental Societies Union, described the shift as “a strategic transitional step” that aligns Jordanian industry with the Kingdom’s climate commitments. He noted that the industrial sector is one of the country’s largest sources of emissions, making efficiency improvements and cleaner fuels essential for reducing its carbon footprint. The project, he said, will also enhance the environmental performance of industrial zones and strengthen the competitiveness of Jordanian products in global markets that increasingly enforce strict carbon standards.
Experts agree that natural gas should be considered a bridge fuel—a necessary step toward a low‑carbon industrial model that must eventually integrate renewable energy, alternative fuels, and advanced technologies such as carbon capture. Linking industrial incentives to clear climate performance indicators, they say, would further enhance the global competitiveness of Jordanian industry.
Photo: Jordan News Agency: https://petra.gov.jo/en/news/
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Want to know more about decarbonization, sustainable industry trends, and the breakthroughs driving real change? Explore the complete lineup of Industry Link’s 2026 events below:
Cementitious Materials International Technical & Trade Congress – Europe
28–29 October, Brussels, Belgium
A leading EMEA gathering on cementitious materials, market trends, regulatory updates, and regional opportunities.
CarbonZero Alternative Fuels & Raw Materials Global Conference & Exhibition 2026
Including Cementitious Europe – Congress
28–29 October, Brussels, Belgium
Global platform for Net Zero strategies, alternative fuels, raw materials, carbon capture, and emerging technologies.
Speakers include:
- Claudia Albertini, CEO Holcim Belgium
- Mahendra Singhi, Board Member & Strategic Advisor, Dalmia Bharat India, Board Member, GCCA
- Adriana Fernandez, UNIDO
- Nikos Nikolakakos, Environment & Resources Manager, Cement Europe
- Irene Dominguez, Policy Manager, Embodied Carbon & Lead Markets, Bellona Europe
- Maria del Mar Rojas, Science Based Targets Initiative (SBTI)
- Dr Martina Bassan, Corporate Affairs Director, European Metals
- Eadbhard Pernot, Executive Director,Carbon Management Europe
- Kerry Sutton, American Concrete Institute
- Hervé Camerlynck, Managing Director, FEBELCEM
- Jacob Moos, Associate Partner, McKinsey
- Pilar Hidalgo, Innovation Director, Cementos La Cruz
- Anna-Marise Rocha, Commercial Manager, Port of Amsterdam
- Frank Mruk, National Ready Mix Cement Association USA
- Luyue Tan, Senior Research Specialist, Carbon, London Stock Exchange Group
- Grant QUASHA, Chairman and CEO, Eco Material Technologies, A CRH Company, USA
- Dr. Stefan Puntke, Managing Director and Dr. Hans-Jürgen Klischat, Executive for Strategic Projects, Refratechnik
- Hongyan Ma, Professor, Missouri University of Science and Technology, USA
- Marta Diez, Country Manager Spain, Portugal, Italy, CFP Energy
- Dr. Josilene TV Ferrer, Senior Analyst for International Cooperation and Climate Change, Green Planet Institute Brazil
- Andres Ponce, CEO, WTEnergy Advanced Solutions
- Mohammed Fouad, Business Excellence Director, Riyadh Cement Company Saudi Arabia
- Mohammed Zaki, Head of Alternative Fuels & H2 Operations Management, Arabian Cement Company Egypt
- Pilar Hidalgo, Head of Innovation, Cementos Las Cruz, Spain
- Tien Peng, Cofounder, GreenPlum St., Portugal
- Georg Lochner, Strategic company development “New Technologies”, Schwenk Building Materials Group, Germany
- Duncan McLachlan, VP Growth & Enterprise, io Consulting
- Alexander Makhlay, Associate Editor, Argus Media
- Cobi Busst, Principal, Beaumont Bailey
- Firefly
Women in Cement and Construction International Congress 2026 – EMEA
30 October, Brussels, Belgium
A dedicated forum advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion across the cement and construction sectors.
Sustainability Conference and Exhibition to include Industry 5.0 – Smart Solutions for Cement and Construction Conference and Exhibition 2026 in São Paulo (World Trade Center)- will convene leading voices from across the global construction, engineering, and infrastructure sectors to address the urgent challenges of decarbonization, embodied carbon reduction, and climate resilience. As the sector undergoes a massive digital shift, this event also focuses on the technologies defining the next generation of building: AI-driven operations, advanced manufacturing, robotics, and human-centric industrial transformation.
Speakers include:
Álvaro Lorenz – Global Director of Sustainability, Votorantim Cimentos
Vanessa Castro, Sustainability, Cementos Argos
Luciana Arouca – Head of Sustainability Services Brazil & LATAM, JLLAna Lúcia Grizzi – Senior Independent Consultant; Coordinator of the Sustainability and Innovation Committee, Votorantim Cimentos
Josilene T. V. Ferrer – Senior Analyst of International Cooperation and Climate Change, CETESB – Environmental Company of the State of São Paulo
Carla Leal – CDP Market Director for LATAM | Board Members
Patrícia Iglecias – Associate Professor, Faculty of Law, University of São Paulo
Juan Padial – Managing Partner, Digital Supply Chain, KPMG
Felipe Salgado – Managing Partner of Decarbonization, KPMG
Rejane Afonso – Technical and Commercial Director, Monitore
Edilson Júnior – Manager of Innovation and Industrial Technology, Cimento Nacional
Cementitious Materials International Technical & Trade Congress – MEA
8–9 December, Morocco
The premier MEA event for cementitious materials, innovation, and regional trade opportunities.
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