(MENAFN- Jordan Times) The Ministry of Water and Irrigation's headquarters in Shmeisani went dark on Tuesday when the power company cut off electricity due to unpaid millions-worth of electricity bills, according to a source within the ministry.
The National Electric Power Company (NEPCO) shut off the power supply to the ministry on Tuesday morning just as employees were entering their offices, said the source, who declined to be named.
"Electricity has been out since 9:00am: It is chaos here. The employees are frustrated and don't know what to do with nothing to work on and people reporting to the ministry are complaining," the source told The Jordan Times.
"We are sitting in the dark at the offices and no one can do anything" We couldn't even operate the power generators."
NEPCO cut off electricity from the ministry because its electricity bill exceeded JD7 million, according to the source, who has access to negotiations between the two agencies, and said it would not restore power until the ministry pays its bill.
NEPCO officials were unavailable for comment on Tuesday.
Asked whether the power cut would have consequences for the Kingdom's water supply, the source said that the water distribution programme would likely be affected if the ministry is without power for an extended period of time.
"The power cut is confining our activities. The water supply and quality of services will naturally be affected," the source said.
Minister of Water and Irrigation Mohammad Najjar said in statements to the press last month that the ministry had asked the Social Security Corporation (SSC) for a loan of JD50 million, which would be used to pay its debts to NEPCO, the Jordan Petroleum Refinery Company, contractors, suppliers and consultants.
A source at the SSC confirmed on Tuesday that the loan had been approved last month.
"The loan has been approved and the corporation is willing to extend the money, but processing measures take time and the delay is coming from the government's side," the source, who also requested anonymity, told The Jordan Times.
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