jordan pulse -

​The Cabinet, in a session chaired by Prime Minister Jafar Hassan on Wednesday, approved a series of draft laws, regulations, and strategic decisions covering election oversight, anti-money laundering, water security, renewable energy, fuel efficiency, local agriculture, port operations, and international grant agreements.
​Independent Election Commission Law
​The Cabinet approved the 2026 draft amended law for the Independent Election Commission (IEC) to align with recent political modernization reforms:
​Political Neutrality: Strictly bans IEC employees from affiliating with any political party while employed, given the IEC’s role in supervising party registration and affairs.
​Candidacy Rules: Requires IEC employees wishing to run in any election managed or supervised by the commission to take 90 days of unpaid leave prior to nomination, with automatic resignation upon winning.
​Digital Campaigning: Formally includes digital campaign channels under regulated election media monitoring.
​Electoral Authority: Clarifies procedures for setting election dates for municipal and other assigned elections, while granting authority to postpone or cancel voting at specific polling stations if safety and integrity are compromised.
​Anti-Money Laundering & Counter-Terrorism Financing
​The Cabinet approved the rationale for the 2026 draft amended Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorism Financing Law to align national financial crime frameworks with international standards, targeting organized crime, terrorism financing, corruption, drug trafficking, fraud, and tax evasion.
​National Water Carrier Project
​To facilitate the physical execution of the National Water Carrier Project, the Cabinet approved a package of facilities and exemptions granted by the Aqaba Special Economic Zone Authority (ASEZA).
​The project will desalinate 300 million cubic meters of seawater annually and convey it across a 450-kilometer pipeline, covering approximately 40% of the Kingdom's drinking water needs.
​The project will double annual per capita water share from 60 to 110 cubic meters and increase water supply frequency from 1 day to 3 days per week across all governorates.
​Renewable Energy & Grid Integration
​The Cabinet approved the draft amended regulations governing renewable energy grid connection and energy conservation for 2026:
​Storage & Self-Generation: Expands flexibility for self-generation and encourages electrical energy storage to enhance grid stability and investment viability.
​Strategic Targets: Supports Jordan's goal to increase renewable energy's share in electricity generation from the current ~27% to 40% by 2035.
​Periodic Review: Establishes a comprehensive review clause after three years of implementation to assess impact on electricity tariffs and grid stability.
​Government Fleet Fuel Monitoring (RFID)
​The Cabinet approved automated digital controls for government vehicle fuel consumption through electronic data exchange and Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) fueling technology.
​The system automatically logs fueling data directly from the vehicle without human intervention, cross-referencing fuel consumption against actual vehicle movement across all ministries, public departments, municipalities, Greater Amman Municipality, and state-owned enterprises.
​Support for Local Agriculture & Strategic Reserves
​To bolster national food security, the Cabinet increased financial allocations for purchasing local wheat and barley from Jordanian farmers for the 2025/2026 harvest season to 59 million JOD (up from 45 million JOD). This increases purchase targets from 110,000 tons to 147,000 tons.
​Port Operations & Supply Chain Flexibility at Aqaba
​To mitigate regional shipping disruption, the Cabinet approved operational measures at Aqaba ports:
​Extended free storage periods for national exports at Aqaba Container Terminal from 7 to 14 days for a 6-month period.
​Reduced goods destruction fees from 450 JOD per ton to 50 JOD per ton for 3 months.
​Increased daily container truck trip allowances to 9 trips per day and permitted qualified trucks to haul two 20-foot containers simultaneously.
​Prioritized handling for national food supplies, local imports, and national exports, reducing average transit container dwell times from 15 to 12 days.
​EU Grant Agreement
​The Cabinet approved a €110 million multi-sectoral grant agreement with the European Union to support economic and social modernization programs directly through the general budget. The grant will be disbursed in two tranches: €38.5 million in late 2026 and €71.5 million in late 2027, focusing on economic governance, human capital, and the green economy.
​Administrative Restructuring & University Systems
​Approved organizational administrative structures for the Integrity and Anti-Corruption Commission and the Telecommunications Regulatory Commission, alongside preliminary approval for restructuring the Ministry of Health.
​Approved end-of-service reward and savings fund regulations for staff at Mutah University and the Hashemite University.
​Officially dissolved the Board of Directors of the Chambers of Commerce starting September 27, 2026, tasking the Minister of Industry, Trade, and Supply with recommending interim management committee members ahead of upcoming chamber elections.
​Source: Rum News Agency