In spite of lower oil prices and the run-up to a possible global recession, many experts believe still believe lower oil prices are not sustainable on the long run. This bodes well for countries such as Jordan, which are thus encouraged to tap into relatively new sources of energy like oil shale. In 1947 oil exploration started in Jordan, a country deemed difficult to explore from a geological perspective. “We’ve made two small discoveries in the 80s in the Azraq region, an area which currently produces about 30 barrels per day. We also discovered gas along the Iraqi border which has allowed us to produce about 21 million cubic feet per day,” said Dr Maher Hijazi, director general of the Natural Resources Authority. In 2004, as oil prices rallied, oil industry players started eyeing Jordan with acute interest. Currently companies such as the SRL from Ireland, Indian Universal Energy Corporation,
