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Nuclear energy vital for Jordan’s economic security: official

04 November 2010 20:20 (UTC +04:00)

Baku-APA. Jordanian Minister of Public Sector Reform and Mega-Projects Emad Fakhoury Thursday said that signatory countries of the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons Treaty have the right to develop peaceful nuclear programs to serve their nations, APA reports quoting Xinhua News Agency.

The minister made the remarks while inaugurating the meeting of the International Framework for Nuclear Energy Cooperation (IFNEC) held at the eastern shore of the Dead Sea.

At the meeting, the minister highlighted Jordan’s keenness to pursue its nuclear program for peaceful purpose, stressing that the program is a vital option for Jordan’s economic security.

The Jordanian official said the Jordanian peaceful nuclear program seeks to generate energy at affordable prices for all citizens and address the increasing demand on energy and water.

Jordan, which has an annual water deficit of about 500 million cubic meters, ranked the fourth poorest country in the world in terms of water.

The Kingdom imports about 96 percent of its energy at a cost of 2.8 billion U.S. dollars, representing 21 percent of its gross domestic product, according to official figures.

Jordan, home to about 140,000 tonnes and other nuclear materials such as zirconium, is expected to produce annually a total of 2,000 tonnes of yellow cake from its central uranium mine and about 300 tonnes of phosphate as of 2013.

The Arab kingdom, which is planning to build three to four nuclear reactors for the generation of power, has signed nuclear cooperation agreements with eight countries, including France, Spain, China, South Korea, Canada, Russia, the United Kingdom and Argentina.

In October 2009, Jordan announced the launch of the 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 and is scheduled to be operational by 2020.