Jordan’s Natural Resources Authority (NRA) and Canada’s Whitehorn Resources on 22 October signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) for the development of oil shale resources. Production could rise over time to a sustained level of 50,000 b/d of oil, although Whitehorn will initially assess the potential for commercial production of 9,500 b/d.

Under the MOU Whitehorn will conduct oil shale exploration drilling and evaluation work, an initial engineering assessment and a feasibility study for the project. The area under study spans some 283 sq km in southern Jordan’s Wadi Abu al-Hamam. (CONTINUED - 301 WORDS)