By : JD
Jordan Daily – Prime Minister, Dr. Jafar Hassan, oversaw the signing of a partnership agreement between Arab Potash Company and U.S.-based Albemarle Corporation to undertake a joint investment project worth 576 million Jordanian dinars ($813 million).
The project, set to begin this month and span five years, is expected to create 650 permanent jobs and hundreds of temporary positions during its implementation. It aims to increase the production capacity of Jordan Bromine Company, a joint venture between the two firms, focusing on bromine and specialized derivatives, while also providing the necessary resources for expansion.
The agreement was signed by Shihadeh Abu Hdaib, Chairman of both Arab Potash and Jordan Bromine, Dr. Maen Nsour, CEO of Arab Potash and board member of Jordan Bromine, Samer Asfour, General Manager of Jordan Bromine, and Netha Johnson, the President of Albemarle’s Bromine Specialties global business unit.
The signing ceremony was attended by Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Dr. Saleh Kharabsheh, Minister of State for Economic Affairs Muhannad Shihadeh, U.S. Ambassador to Jordan Yael Lempert, and senior representatives from the three companies.
Prime Minister Hassan lauded in a statement, the partnership between Arab Potash and Albemarle, describing the mining sector as a key pillar in Jordan’s economic modernization strategy. He affirmed the government’s commitment to supporting investments and ensuring their success, highlighting that Albemarle’s investment is one of the largest U.S. investments in Jordan and a key project for Arab Potash, a symbol of Jordan’s industrial success.
Hassan emphasized Jordan’s promising investment opportunities, particularly in the mining sector, including potash, phosphate, downstream industries, and green ammonia production.
He also underscored the importance of the National Railway Project, which will link Aqaba with Arab Potash and Jordan Phosphate Mines Company’s Shidiya site, as vital for supporting mining exports, expressing hopes for future integration of the railway network with the Ma’an Dry Port project.
He praised Arab Potash for its commitment to sustainability and its role in community development through corporate social responsibility initiatives.
Abu Hdaib emphasized the government’s support for the expansion of Jordan Bromine, reflecting the company’s importance in the chemical industry and its contribution to the national economy, noting that the expansion project would provide 650 permanent jobs and many more during its execution.
He added that the project aligns with Arab Potash’s strategy to expand its chemical industries derived from the Dead Sea’s minerals and supports the objectives outlined in Jordan’s Economic Modernization Vision, which calls for advancing the mining and chemical sectors, improving local products, and enhancing productivity to boost national resources and economic returns.
Dr. Nsour emphasized the significance of the expansion project at Jordan Bromine Company, which aims to increase production capacity for bromine and its specialized derivatives used in various industrial and medical applications.
He noted that the project will have positive impacts on the national economy by boosting industrial exports and creating new job opportunities during the project’s implementation, which is expected to last up to five years. Additionally, hundreds of permanent jobs will be created upon its completion, showcasing the vast potential and capabilities of Jordan’s industrial sector.
Dr. Nsour added that this project is one of the most important future initiatives that Arab Potash plans to undertake, aimed at driving growth and expanding specialized chemical industries, noting the project is expected to enhance the company’s revenues and profitability, with the execution set to begin in 2025 across four phases.
Johnson stressed the importance of the expansion, which will help both companies achieve their long-term goals, including bolstering Jordan Bromine’s global competitiveness ,noting that Albemarle chose to expand in Jordan due to the country’s favorable investment environment, stable regulations, strategic location, abundant raw materials from the Dead Sea, and skilled workforce.
Johnson added that the strong, long-standing partnership between Albemarle and Arab Potash, built over 25 years, has been a key driver behind the decision to invest further in Jordan Bromine.
