Work on Jordan's first nuclear research reactor begins

The Jordan Atomic Energy Commission (JAEC) announced on Monday the start of work on the nuclear research reactor.

In a statement obtained by Xinhua, JAEC chief Khaled Toukan said the creation of the nuclear research reactor, which will be in operation in 2015, is an important step in Jordan's pursuit to implement its peaceful nuclear energy program.

Also in the day, Jordan and South Korea signed an easy loan agreement under which the latter provide the energy-poor Kingdom with 70 million U.S. dollars to build its first nuclear research reactor.

Jordan's Minister of Planning and International Cooperation Jafar Hassan told reporters after signing the agreement with several South Korean officials that the reactor will be established at the Jordan University for Sciences and Technology.

According to Toukan, the total cost of the research reactor stands at 130 million U.S. dollars, and it will be the start for an advanced national center for research and training with nuclear labs that will benefit students and researchers at all universities and research institutions.

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

In October 2009, Jordan announced the launch of site feasibility study for the Kingdom's first nuclear power plant. The plant, located about 12 km to the east of the Aqaba coastline, is expected to initially generate 750 to 1,100 megawatts of electricity.

Source: Xinhua