Exploitation of Jordanian oil-shales

Oil shale is the major indigenous fossil-fuel in Jordan, yet it is not used at present. Its predicted reserves (> 5 × 1010 tonnes) should be sufficient to satisfy national energy-requirements for several centuries. Jordanian oil-shale has a gross calorific-value of 6 (±1) MJkg−1, an oil yield of 10%, and a sulphur content of 3% by weight of the raw shale (i.e. 7 to 9% of the organic-matter content). A multi-purpose process (consisting of electricity generation, thermal water-desalination, retorting, chemical production as well as mineral extraction) could achieve high utilisation-factors for both the oil shaleʹs chemical and energy potentials. A strategy for this exploitation is proposed.