Yellowcake uranium, a solid form of uranium oxide produced from uranium ore; it must be processed further before it is made into nuclear fuel
Experts estimate central Jordan holds 41,000 tons of Yellowcake uranium
Experts estimate that central Jordan holds approximately 41,000 tons of yellowcake uranium, according to Dr. Khaled Al-Khasawneh, Commissioner of Nuclear Power Reactors at the Jordan Atomic Energy Commission (JAEC).
The announcement was made during a lecture organized by the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources in partnership with the JAEC. The session focused on the impact of nuclear power reactors on Jordan’s energy and water sectors.
In a statement received by Roya, Al-Khasawneh said that these quantities of Uranium could be used as a primary source of fuel for nuclear power reactors in Jordan.
He noted that the Jordan Uranium Mining Company (JUMCO) manages the uranium project in central Jordan and is working on optimizing uranium ore processing.
Al-Khasawneh outlined the commission's aspirations to utilize small modular reactors (SMRs) and integrate nuclear energy into the national energy mix.
He emphasized that nuclear power is one of the best low-carbon energy sources globally and can be employed in various fields. Technical assessments and economic feasibility studies for several SMR designs are currently underway, along with studies on using nuclear energy for water desalination and pumping in Jordan.
The commission's studies to integrate SMRs with the National Water Carrier Project reviewed how nuclear power reactors function and their potential future contributions to reducing energy production costs compared to traditional energy sources.
He highlighted that many SMRs are designed for multiple purposes, such as seawater desalination and hydrogen production, enhancing their benefits and efficiency. He also pointed out their lower cooling water requirements compared to conventional reactors, providing more flexibility in selecting reactor sites away from water sources.
Al-Khasawneh also provided an overview of Jordan's nuclear program, including the Jordan Research and Training Reactor and the uranium exploration and mining project. He underscored the pivotal role of the Jordan Research and Training Reactor in training a new generation of nuclear researchers, scientists, and engineers, as well as in producing medical and industrial radioactive isotopes, notably iodine-131 – used in cancer diagnosis and treatment.
