Joint Press Release on Contract Signing
01 Aug 2004The Electricity Regulatory Commission (ERC) and multinational consultant Atos Origin, formerly SchlumbergerSema, in consortium with Nexant Inc. and local partner Talal Abu-Ghazaleh International, on Tuesday signed a €3.7 million technical assistance contract in the framework of a
EU-funded program to support Jordan’s regulatory reform and liberalization drive. The contract is part of a €4.3 million assistance granted to the ERC by the EU.
ERC Director General Rashad Aburas said the main objective of the agreement was to develop effective regulatory mechanisms in line with the best international practices, strengthen the capacity of the State to promote effective private sector’s participation in the power sector in a consistent and transparent manner, and to increase competition in the power sector.
The Head of the European Commission Delegation to Jordan, Ambassador Robert van der Meulen, said the technical assistance was part of EU efforts to help the Jordanian government ensure that, as liberalization takes place, public monopolies are not replaced by private monopolies.
A more efficient regulatory body in the electricity sector will help ensure that Jordanian citizens enjoy better quality services at competitive prices, van der Meulen said.
The technical assistance contract awarded for the ERC comes within the framework of the € 20 million Support for Regulatory Reform and Privatization (SRRP) program, funded by the European Commission.
Aiming at liberalizing key infrastructure sectors in an independent regulatory climate and enhancing public-private sector partnership, the SRRP was launched in late 2002.
Tuesday’s agreement was the second being signed within the framework of the SRRP this week: A €4 million technical assistance contract was officially signed on Sunday for the Executive Privatization Commission.
Similar multi-million technical assistance contracts within the framework of the SRRP are being finalized for the Civil Aviation Authority and the Telecommunications Regulatory Commission.
Follow us
