Uranium provides Jordan with spark for much-needed bonanza

Jordan, one of the few Middle East countries with no oil and long one of the poorest in the region, now finds itself on the brink of a potential economic bonanza. It has discovered uranium in huge quantities. Multinational companies are queueing up to start mining operations. Jordan is proposing to build a nuclear reactor and save almost 20 per cent of its gross domestic product now spent on importing fossil fuels. The small desert kingdom is set to lead the way in nuclear power production, opening its first nuclear plant in six years’ time and eventually exporting energy to all its neighbours.
Two years ago, Jordan’s energy minister announced that uranium deposits were estimated at 80,000 tonnes – with an additional 100,000 tonnes contained among the country’s phosphate reserves. Jordan now accounts for 2 per cent of the world’s uranium reserves.

The discovery prompted a swift revision of energy strategy. Jordan, encouraged by the Americans and the International Atomic Energy Authority (IAEA) to show the Arab world how a responsible civilian nuclear power industry could be managed, is moving fast to begin exploitation of its uranium and construction of its first nuclear plant. By 2030, nuclear energy will supply a third of its electricity – allowing Jordan to cut the huge bill for oil and gas imports, which account for 95 per cent of its requirements.

The West has not been slow to show interest. In February Rio Tinto, the Anglo-Australian mining group, signed an 18-month deal to explore for uranium, thorium and zirconium. France, the leading European user of nuclear energy, has also shown interest, proposing to mine the uranium in exchange for help and know-how in building Jordan’s first reactor.

The Times