Go-ahead for Jordanian research reactor

20 August 2013

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Permission has been granted to begin construction of Jordan's first nuclear reactor. Operating from 2016, the research reactor should become a focal point for the country's nuclear education and training.

The Jordan Research and Training Reactor (JRTR) it is to be built at the Jordan University for Science and Technology, 67 kilometres north of Amman. It will be a 5 MWt version of the Korea Atomic Energy Institute's 30 MWt Hanaro design (High-flux Advanced Neutron Application Reactor). Its fuel will be supplied by Areva of France.

The cost of the reactor is put at $130 million, with $70 million of this financed by a soft loan from South Korea to the Jordanian government.

With the issuance of a construction permit, the South Korean engineers can get to work. Daewoo Engineering Construction is leading the project, with involvement from the Korea Nuclear Energy Promotion Agency. Building work is expected to be completed in 2016.

Announcing the permit, head Jordanian regulator Majd Hawwari said two years of work had gone into approving the construction, adding that the country follows the licensing guidelines of the International Atomic Energy Agency and the European Union. A two-stage process first looked at the environmental, quality control and seismic aspects of the proposal. The second stage ensured sufficiently qualified personnel for the regulator for JRTR and Jordan's overall nuclear project.

As well as producing radioisotopes, the reactor will provide training facilities for future generations of Jordanian nuclear scientists and engineers, and help the country to develop the infrastructure necessary to support its plans for nuclear power.

Jordan is aiming to build a 750-1200 MWe nuclear power unit for operation by 2020 and a second one for operation by 2025. Presently the country imports over 95% of its energy needs and seeks greater energy security as well as lower electricity prices. At the same electricity demand is expected to double by 2030.

Researched and written

by World Nuclear News

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