Jordan Increases Electricity Price By 9%-17% After Egypt Gas Cut

Jordan said Monday it will raise electricity prices this week by between 9%-17% to offset losses caused by cut-offs in Egyptian gas supplies.

"An increase..will be imposed from Wednesday on consumers who use more 600 kilowatt/hour per month," said the Electricity Regulatory Commission.

"Those who consume up to 600 kilowatt/hour per month, or 92% of the [6.5 million] population, won't be affected," it said in a statement.

Economist Yusef Mansur said however that he thought it was unlikely the majority of the population would be immune to the price increase.

"I do not think that the 92% figure is accurate. Electricity consumption and demand vary seasonally. I don't think they [the commission] have the capabilities to calculate such a percentage," Mansur told AFP.

Pipelines carrying Egyptian natural gas to Jordan and Israel have been a target of repeated attacks over the past year.

Egyptian gas covers 80% of Jordan 's electricity production demand--6.8 million cubic meters a day.

The attacks cost Jordan around $1.5 billion in 2011, according to the commission.

The kingdom is currently studying prospects of importing liquefied natural gas from Qatar , which holds the world's third-largest gas reserves.