Jordan eyes Iraqi crude for expanded refinery

The country has approved in principle a plan for a pipeline to import Iraq's oil

The Jordanian authorities are pressing ahead with plans for a 20% expansion to the capacity of the Zarqa oil refiner—from 100,000 barrels a day to 120,000 b/d. Actual production is around 80,000 b/d. Last year, Honeywell UOP was contracted to supply technology and equipment, and KBR has signed an engineering agreement for the residue hydroprocessing unit. Jordan has to import nearly all its energy needs, so the $1.6bn (£1.1bn) refinery expansion project is necessary to meet rising demand for petroleum products—compounded by the presence of more than half a million Syrian refugees. Jordan Petroleum Refinery Company chief executive Abdul Karim Alaween said fuel demand was rising at an average