PROSPECTS FOR THE EXPLOITATION OF JORDANIAN OIL-SHALE

Oil shale is the major indigenous fossil-fuel in Jordan: its predicted reserves, of about 5 x 10(10) tonnes, should be sufficient to satisfy Jordan's energy-requirements for several centuries. Jordanian oil sha le has, on an average, a gross calorific value of between 5 and 7 MJ/k g, an oil yield of similar to 10 % and a sulfur content of approximate ly 3 % by weight of the raw shale (i.e. 7 to 9 % of the organic matter content). Using the oil shale as the input fuel, a multipurpose produ ction process (i.e. retorting, electricity generation, thermal water-d esalination, chemicals production as well as mineral extraction) could achieve high utilisation-factors of both ifs chemical and energy pote ntials. In the long-term, oil shale is the only indigenous energy reso urce that could reduce Jordan's dependence on imported crude oil and h ence ease the pressure on the national economy. The conversion of oil shale into a liquid or gaseous fuel and raw materials will be of decis ive importance in attempts to secure the future of energy supplies. So national efforts devoted to the exploration for, and harnessing more economically, this energy resource, while limiting the associated adve rse environmental impacts, should be accelerated.