The combined cycle power generation plant will burn natural gas delivered by the proposed Egypt-Jordan transmission pipeline. The government is keen to integrate both projects at an early stage of development, the sources say. Tractebel is understood to be among the prospective bidders for the 370-kilometre pipeline, which will transport Egyptian gas from Aqaba to the Kherbet al-Samra IPP and other combined cycle power stations near Amman. Bids for the contract to buld the pipeline are due on 22 December (MEED 23:11:01).

The Kherbet al-Samra plant will provide for up to 30 per cent of Jordan's energy needs when it comes on line in 2005. Energy demand has been growing at an average rate of 4 per cent a year in the last decade. The cost of imported energy amounts to nearly 10 per cent of the kingdom's gross domestic product (GDP) and 40-45 per cent of its total export earnings.