Jordan reached a contract of 12 million U.S. dollars Saturday with a French-Belgian company to build its first nuclear plant, and the site assessment work of the proposed location will be conducted in October.

"The beginning of the study, carried out by French-Belgian company Tractebel Engineering, to assess the plant's site is a milestone which is very crucial for the construction process," Head of Jordan's Atomic Energy Commission Khalid Touqan told reporters.

Khalid said that the two-year study includes assessment on geological stability, geophysics, soil characteristics and risk management of the proposed site of the plant, located about 12 km to the east of the Aqaba coastline.

The study, which will be conducted by Tractebel Engineering, covers public health, safety and security issues, and the environmental impact on the location will also be taken into account.

The plant, expected to initially generate 750 to 1,100 megawatts of electricity, is expected to be operational by the year 2020.

Jordan, which signed nuclear cooperation deals with several countries such as France, Russia and China, plans to build four nuclear reactors to meet its rising need of energy.

Source: Xinhua