Global Arab Network - The Ministry of Environment is extending the deadline for groups requesting funding for eco-projects from the Jordan Environment Fund (JEF) until mid-September, according to an announcement made on Sunday.

The ministry started receiving applications to fund projects earlier this month, and set August 31 as a deadline for groups hoping to implement environment-friendly ventures.

"Minister of Environment Taher Shakhshir decided to extend the deadline by two weeks to give interested institutions, organisations and companies the opportunity to apply for funds from the JEF," the ministry's spokesperson, Issa Shboul, told The Jordan Times yesterday.

Shboul said that scores of institutions applied for funds; private, public and civic sectors were urged to propose projects that improve the country's environment and limit consumption of water and energy.

The Ministry of Environment launched the JEF early this month with the aim of supporting socio-economic projects that improve the environment, rehabilitate degraded ecosystems and ensure the sustainability of the country's natural resources. It partly finances the ventures.

The JD4 million fund finances projects through soft loans totalling 75 per cent of the cost of the projects proposed by the private sector, and up to 95 per cent of the cost of projects proposed by the public sector, Shakhshir said.

To motivate and encourage institutions to apply, this year the fund will finance eco-projects through grants instead of soft loans.

A total of JD1 million will be distributed this year among projects that address Jordan's pressing environment issues - treatment of industrial wastewater, solid waste management, energy conservation and renewable energy sources - as well as environment-related small- and medium-size enterprises.

The fund is financed through the earnings of the Clean Development Mechanism project, fines for environment violations, fees collected from testing radiation levels of junk pieces imported from Iraq as well as fees from environment-impact assessments.

The ministry said the fund's board of directors has five representatives from the private sector and five from the public sector in order to ensure complete transparency.

(Source: Jordan Times)