Representatives from Jordan, Egypt, Morocco, Syria, Turkey and the European Commission have joined together to establish a new oil shale cooperation and training centre in Amman, Jordan's capital.

In addition to state representatives, the signing ceremony was attended by delegates from a number of private firms that will support the development of shale oil in participating countries, reports the Jordan News Agency.

Commenting after the signing, Maher Hijazein, director of the Natural Resources Authority in Jordan, said that by sharing expertise, the centre would allow participating countries to exploit oil shale potential in a clean and safe environment.

The partnership will also pave the way for international cooperation in fields such as training and technology sharing, said Mr Hijazein.

The centre will be jointly funded by participating countries and the European Union. The EU has also committed funding to a new nuclear training project in Jordan as part of the country's civil nuclear development programme.

Oil and Gas Directory: Training and Development