Jordan begins site assessment of first nuclear plant

Jordan's Atomic Energy Commission announced Tuesday the launch of the site feasibility study for the Kingdom's first nuclear power plant.

By January, it will be clear if the location is feasible to go ahead with the required procedures to establish the nuclear plant, head of the Commission Khalid Touqan said Tuesday at a meeting with concerned agencies and representatives of the companies implementing the study.

The two-year study entails evaluating the 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 first three months of the study will be devoted to checking on the suitability of the site.

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

The study, conducted by the Belgian Tractabel Engineering (GDF-SUEZ), along with Jordan's Arab Consultants Bureau and France's Bureau Veritas, will also evaluate the impact of the power plant on the environment, the public health and safety.

Jordan, which is planning to build three to four nuclear reactors for the generation of power, has inked nuclear cooperation agreements with several countries such as France, Russia, China and Argentina.

Belgian Ambassador to Jordan Johan Indekeu and French Ambassador to Jordan Corinne Breuze were also present at the meeting.

Source: Xinhua