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Attarat Oil Shale Power Plant
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The Attarat Oil Shale Power Plant is a pioneering energy project located in the Jordanian desert, approximately 110 kilometers southeast of Amman in Attarat um Ghudran. It is the first power station in the Middle East and North Africa to utilize the direct combustion of oil shale to generate electricity. The project aims to reduce Jordan's heavy dependence on imported fuel by exploiting the country's massive domestic oil shale reserves. With an installed capacity of 554 megawatts, the plant provides a significant portion of the national electricity demand. The venture was realized by a consortium of Chinese, Malaysian, and Estonian companies, representing one of the largest foreign investments in the nation's history. Besides the power plant, the complex includes a large-scale open-cast mine to supply the necessary shale. Despite environmental and financial debates, the facility is a technological landmark for the regional utilization of alternative fossil fuels.
- Location: Jordan
- Nearby: Al-Jiza (51 km)
Best time to visit & climate
The most pleasant time to visit is May, Sep, Oct.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avg °C | 8 | 9 | 13 | 17 | 22 | 25 | 27 | 27 | 25 | 21 | 14 | 9 |
| Rain mm | 35 | 33 | 18 | 9 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 13 | 24 |
📋 Practical info
What is this place?
This facility represents a massive industrial undertaking designed to harness the nation's extensive oil shale reserves for domestic electricity generation. It typically plays a critical strategic role in reducing the country's long-standing reliance on imported energy resources.
Visiting
As a highly secured heavy industry site, the plant itself is generally strictly off-limits to casual tourists and independent travelers. Occasional specialized technical or educational tours might be arranged, but regular public access is usually entirely restricted for safety reasons.
Where to view it
The immense scale of the mining operations and the towering infrastructure can typically be glimpsed from adjacent desert highways traveling through the region. However, stopping along these fast-moving roads is usually not recommended due to heavy commercial traffic and limited safe pull-offs.
Local products
Because it is an isolated industrial zone, visitors will generally not find any traditional tourist markets or craft vendors in the immediate vicinity. Any commercial activity nearby is usually strictly geared toward providing basic services and provisions for the vast workforce operating the site.
Active season
The power generation facilities and the associated mining activities typically run continuously, operating around the clock regardless of the season. However, any visual observation from a distance is usually clearest during the winter and spring months when the desert air is less hazy and hot.
Nearby
A passing view of this monumental project is often combined with long drives heading south towards world-famous historical destinations like Petra or Wadi Rum. Travelers typically incorporate this as a brief point of industrial interest while traversing the expansive Desert Highway network.
Geography
Facts
- The power plant has a net output of approximately 470 megawatts.
- The total investment for the project was around 2.1 billion USD.
- It provides roughly 15% of Jordan's total annual electricity needs.
- Jordan possesses the world's fourth largest reserves of oil shale.
- The adjacent mine produces about 10 million tons of shale per year.
- The facility uses advanced circulating fluidized bed (CFB) technology.
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Frequently asked questions
What is special about this power plant?
It uses oil shale for power generation, a local resource.
Where is the Attarat power plant located?
In the desert east of Al-Qatranah.
Can you visit the power plant?
Visits for tourists are not permitted.
How much power does it produce?
It has a capacity of about 470 megawatts.
Who financed the project?
It is a major joint venture with Chinese participation.
Attarat Oil Shale Power Plant: where is it located?
Attarat Oil Shale Power Plant is located in Jordan.
Attarat Oil Shale Power Plant: when is the best time to visit?
The most pleasant time to visit is May, Sep, Oct.
Attarat Oil Shale Power Plant: why is it worth visiting?
The Attarat Oil Shale Power Plant is a pioneering energy project located in the Jordanian desert, approximately 110 kilometers southeast of Amman in Attarat um Ghudran.
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