Original news was published on 17 September, 2014

Unconventional resource could mean energy independence

India and Jordan will discuss ways to mine shale gas as both countries look for ways to achieve energy independence. Leaders from both countries will meet in New Delhi in November at the Indo-Arab Business Partnership Summit, according to a Financial Express report. “Jordan could play an important role in our energy security paradigm, given the fact that it claims to have the second largest shale deposits in the world after the U.S.,” Anil Trigunayat, Indian ambassador to Jordan, told FE. Jordan has shale deposits between 40-70 billion tonne with a potential to generate 35 billion barrels of oil. India’s exact reserves are unknown, but reports say there are “huge shale deposits” in the coastal states, Assam, Gujarat and Rajasthan.

In the meantime, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will meet with U.S. officials later this month and shale gas exploration in India will be one of the most important items on the agenda. Currently, Jordan imports 97 percent of its energy, while India imports about 78 percent of the crude oil it needs. Earlier this year, Jordan approved the construction of a US$2.4 billion oil shale-fueled power plant in Attarat, with funding from the China. Guangdong Power Engineering will build the plant.

*NEWS SOURCE