About a year after the work on the Jordanian-German Energy Partnership started, the first high-ranking steering group meeting took place on 24 August 2021. In the meeting with H.E. the Jordanian Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources, Eng. Hala Zawati, the Chargé d’affaires of the German Embassy to Jordan, Dr Florian Reindel, the Country Director of GIZ Jordan, Elisabeth Girrbach, and representatives of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy, recent developments in the energy sector were discussed. Both sides also agreed to establish the Energy Academy of German and Jordan.
Minister Hala Zawati welcomed this decision, stating that “the Energy Academy will make a seminal contribution to the development of the Jordanian energy sector, as envisaged by the Energy Strategy 2020 – 2030”. The new facility will train and certify technicians and mechanics in the fields of solar energy, energy efficiency, and digital applications for the energy sector in accordance with German standards. “Our aim is to support those who will bring the energy sector in Jordan forward”, said Dr Reindel.
The Academy will receive input from German and Jordanian partners specialised in academia, management, and business aspects relevant to the institution. In line with the Jordan’s aim to become a regional energy hub, the Academy will also accommodate trainees from neighbouring countries. Preparations for the Energy Academy are in full swing, with the first training courses expected to start in the first quarter of 2022.
The Energy Academy is one of the most prominent projects carried out by Jordanian-German Energy Partnership. The Partnership is managed by GIZ as part of a global project “Bilateral Energy Partnerships” on behalf of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy. Through the Energy Partnership, the Jordan and Germany work together to achieve a more sustainable, reliable, and affordable energy supply. Focus topics include the build-up of renewable energy supply in Jordan, enhancing the participation of women in the energy sector, increasing energy efficiency, and stimulating innovation in the energy sector.
