Jordan plans nuclear energy by 2015

“Ynet” news reported today that Jordan is planning to construct a nuclear reactor for peaceful purposes. Quoting a report in London today by “Al Hayat,” Ynet said that Jordan intended to operate its first reactor for the purpose of energy production in 2015, “to ensure a better future and achieve continuous development” for the kingdom, which lies in a desert region and suffers from a severe energy shortage.

The Jordanians’ policy is based on three key moves: creating a large uranium reserve for energy purposes; training suitable physicists, through the promotion of the plan at Jordanian universities; and creating relevant alliances with Western countries.


King Abdallah has already declared his ambition to build a reactor for peaceful purposes, and said that the acute energy crisis in his country and steep oil prices justified such a project. Other Arab states, among them Egypt and the Gulf States, have also taken a similar line and declared that they too wish to build nuclear reactors for peaceful purposes, as the Iranian nuclear program gathers momentum.

It was also reported that International Atomic Energy Agency chief Mohamed El Baradei will visit Jordan on April 13, in order to learn more about Jordan’s plans and look at ways of assisting the Jordanians.

Globes