Opening of Oil Rafinery at Zarka - 15 fils
This commemorative stamp was issued by the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan to mark the landmark inauguration of the country’s first and only domestic oil refinery in Zarqa. While the Jordan Petroleum Refinery Company was originally established in 1956, construction of the facility concluded in early 1961, leading to its official inauguration by King Hussein bin Talal on February 2, 1961. The release of this commemorative postal issue celebrated a major milestone in Jordan’s mid-century push for economic modernization, industrial self-sufficiency, and infrastructural development.
Prior to the refinery's opening, Jordan was entirely dependent on expensive, imported refined petroleum derivatives. By linking the Zarqa refinery to the Trans-Arabian Pipeline (Tapline) via a dedicated branch line, the nation gained the capability to process imported crude locally into essential fuels, asphalt, and lubricants. This breakthrough drastically lowered domestic energy costs, safeguarded national energy security, and provided the foundational power and materials required to construct the kingdom's expanding highway networks and support its rapidly growing industrial sector.
Prior to the refinery's opening, Jordan was entirely dependent on expensive, imported refined petroleum derivatives. By linking the Zarqa refinery to the Trans-Arabian Pipeline (Tapline) via a dedicated branch line, the nation gained the capability to process imported crude locally into essential fuels, asphalt, and lubricants. This breakthrough drastically lowered domestic energy costs, safeguarded national energy security, and provided the foundational power and materials required to construct the kingdom's expanding highway networks and support its rapidly growing industrial sector.