Jordan Prepares for First Nuclear Power Station

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Researched by Industrial Info Resources (Sugar Land, Texas)--Jordan Atomic Energy Commission (JAEC) (Amman, Jordan) is paving the way for the country's first nuclear power station. Land-locked in the Middle East by Saudi Arabia, Israel, Syria and Iraq, Jordan is covered with desert and has little to offer in terms of natural resources. However, Jordan has one of the largest uranium reserves, accounting for 2% of the world's uranium. By 2035, Jordan is hoping to generate about 60% of its electricity via nuclear reactors and is in the books for four nuclear power stations.

In March, Jordan signed a contract with South Korea to build a research reactor to prepare the country's scientists and technicians for the coming power stations. Jordanian officials have signed the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and are searching for ways to produce nuclear fuel from the country's uranium reserves.

In hopes of presenting a straightforward and transparent nuclear power policy, Jordan plans on financing and constructing the first, as well as subsequent power stations, according to internationally adopted requirements. It is looking to finance the facility, which is expected to cost approximately $1.3 billion, based on a team effort between the private and public sectors to strain the national treasury. In regard to construction, Jordan has been working closely with WorleyParsons Limited (ASX:WOR) (North Sydney, Australia) and Tractebel Engineering S.A. (Brussels, Belgium) to complete area studies after determining the site to be geologically sound. JAEC selected an area located nine kilometers inland of the southern strip of Aqaba, which is approximately 200 kilometers south of Amman.

JAEC has yet to find a supplier, but plans to select one from a group comprised of Canadian and Russian companies, as well as a Japanese-French joint venture. The tender is scheduled for announcement next spring. After a supplier is selected, JAEC will be able to look toward construction, which is tentatively scheduled to begin during the second quarter of 2014. Construction will involve the building of the power station facilities and the installation of a pressurized water reactor. When completed late in 2018, Jordan's first nuclear power station is expected to produce 1,000 megawatts to be supplied to the regional grid. Jordan's power station will be the second to be built in the Middle East, following the United Arab Emirates.

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