Jordan, Russia sign memo over mini nuclear power stations

Jordan

Published: 2017-12-10 14:44

Last Updated: 2024-03-28 05:55


The memo will work on expanding the horizons of the two countries to strengthen the nuclear cooperation between them. (4bc.com.au)
The memo will work on expanding the horizons of the two countries to strengthen the nuclear cooperation between them. (4bc.com.au)

A Memorandum of Understanding has been signed between the Jordanian Atomic Energy Commission (JAEC) and the government-owned Russian Energy company ROSATOM to study the probabilities of utilizing small modular reactors made by the Russian company in the peaceful Jordanian nuclear program.

The memo was signed by Dr. Khaled Toukan, the Chairman of the JAEC, and Yevgeny Bakermanov from ROSATOM.

In a press statement released on Saturday, Dr. Toukan emphasized the importance of this memo and its part in the Jordanian effort to utilize the reactors as a key element in the Jordanian nuclear strategy for the purposes of electricity generation and desalination of drinking water, as well as other thermal and industrial applications.

The memo will also work on expanding the horizons of the two countries to strengthen the nuclear cooperation between them, in an effort to execute the National Nuclear Program as a strategic choice that will boost the local energy resources and the national economy.

According to Bakermanov, Russia and Jordan have been cooperating in the nuclear technology field for a very long time, and this memo will only strengthen the cooperation. He also expressed ROSATOM's willingness in providing its expertise in small modular reactors.

Dr. Kamal Araj, the Vice Chairman of JAEC and the Nuclear Program Project Director, said that this memo comes within the plans of the national program to review the promising global designs in the field of small modular reactors, and to choose the best designs to conduct separate technical and financial feasibility studies and evaluate the possibility of building this kind of reactor in Jordan.

Dr. Araj also praised these reactors for their low cost and limited need of water for cooling purposes, compared to old traditional ones, in addition to the flexibility of building them on dry land or on floating water stations.