Amman - (dpa) - The Jordanian Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources signed today, Sunday, a memorandum of understanding with the Turkish company (Solvest) to explore for gold in the Abu Khushiba area in the south of the country.

The Jordanian News Agency (Petra) quoted the Jordanian Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources, Saleh Al-Kharabsheh, as saying that the memorandum with the Turkish Solvist is for 14 months, which is the second with the company, and includes exploration and prospecting for gold in the Abu Khushiba Valley in the south of the Kingdom.

He added that it comes within the framework of the ministry's efforts to enhance the added value of the mining sector in the Kingdom to exploit strategic minerals, pointing out that the company will operate within an area of about 155 square kilometers.

He stressed the importance of the memorandum in expanding the exploitation of natural resources in the Kingdom's lands to supply the national economy with added value and create job opportunities for local communities, noting that the ministry had previously signed last April with Solvest Company a memorandum of understanding to explore copper in the Abu Khushiba area after its rehabilitation and taking Duly approved approvals, pointing out that the company is now committed to the work program specified in the memorandum of understanding.

The Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources has recently signed a number of memorandums of understanding for exploration and prospecting for mineral resources, focusing on manufacturing industries, as they add value to the national economy, expand job opportunities and improve the standard of living for local communities.