Plizio Visual Lab

Risha Gas Field

Plizio editorial teamUpdated: Jun 2026Data Sources

energy

Weather…

The Risha Gas Field is Jordan's primary domestic source of natural gas, located in the remote eastern desert near the border with Iraq. Discovered in 1987, the field is operated by the state-owned National Petroleum Company (NPC). Production from this site is of strategic importance, as it helps reduce the country's reliance on expensive energy imports. The extracted gas is used on-site to fire the Risha power plant, which supplies electricity to the national grid. In recent years, the NPC has stepped up efforts to increase daily output and explore previously untapped reserves through new drilling activities. Geological studies suggest that the field possesses significantly greater potential than what has been utilized so far. Developing the Risha field remains a central part of Jordan's energy strategy, focusing on achieving greater self-reliance and diversifying its resource base.

Best time to visit & climate

The most pleasant time to visit is Apr, May, Oct.

	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Avg °C	7	9	13	18	23	28	30	30	27	22	14	8
Rain mm	9	11	6	8	2	0	1	0	0	3	5	9

📋 Practical info

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What is this place?

Risha Gas Field stands as Jordan's sole producing natural gas extraction site, located in the deep eastern desert near the Iraqi border. It provides a vital, though limited, domestic energy source for the nation's power grid, symbolizing the country's quest for energy independence.

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Visiting

Being a highly secure national energy asset, the extraction perimeter and related processing plants are entirely restricted to authorized personnel. Tourists cannot access the internal workings, and standard desert tours do not include stops at the operational facilities.

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Where to view it

Travellers journeying along the remote highway connecting Amman to Baghdad might observe parts of the distant infrastructure and connecting transmission lines. The desolate, flat basalt desert surrounding the area provides uninterrupted views, but stopping near the site to take photographs is usually prohibited.

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Local products

The immediate vicinity is incredibly barren, so do not expect to find tourist shops, local markets, or artisanal products near the gas field. Any essential provisions or traditional Jordanian snacks should be purchased well in advance in towns like Azraq before venturing this far east.

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Active season

Energy extraction occurs continuously every single day, unaffected by the seasonal shifts in the harsh Badia region. For overland travellers, the milder months of spring and autumn offer the most bearable driving conditions across this unforgiving eastern landscape.

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Nearby

A journey this far east pairs logically with exploring the historical desert castles like Qasr Amra or the wetland reserve at Azraq. Adventurous off-road enthusiasts might also combine this route with guided explorations of the mysterious Black Desert.