Nuclear power is self-sufficiency in Jordan

Jordan relies almost entirely on imports from its neighbours for its energy needs. Today, 80 per cent of the country’s power generation is fuelled by natural gas from Egypt.

It is no surprise, then, that Jordan has big ambitions for nuclear power. What it lacks in fossil fuels, it hopes to make up for with its 80,000 tonnes of uranium reserves. Tapping these will enable it to end its reliance on its neighbours for power-generation feedstock.

The country plans to build five nuclear reactors over the next 30 years. The first of these is due to come on line in Aqaba in 2018 or 2019. The Jordan Atomic Energy Commission is spearheading the programme, and will soon appoint a consultant to carry out a site study.

More will be built along the proposed Red Sea-Dead Sea canal, which will pump water from the Red Sea to replenish the shrinking Dead Sea. For one of the world’s most arid countries, nuclear fuel can be harnessed not only for power generation, but also for desalination.

Jordan’s nuclear programme has attracted significant interest from around the world. Already it has signed co-operation agreements with China, Russia, France, the US and Canada. The government-to-government deals open the door for foreign companies to bid for the construction of nuclear facilities in Jordan.

Amman has already signed several deals with international companies including Korea Electric Power Corporation, Canada’s SNC Lavalin and France’s Areva, which is exploring and mining for uranium in central Jordan.

Jordan’s peak demand for electricity currently stands at 2,230MW and is growing by 4.7 per cent a year. By 2025, it needs to have an installed power generating capacity of 7,010MW. Nuclear power will play the biggest role in meeting that demand.