On Monday, Jordan announced that Russia's Rosatom will build and operate two 1,000 megawatt reactors near Amman.Jordan has deliberated plans for a nuclear plant since 2007, according to the World Nuclear Association, at various times considering reactors from Korea Electric Power Co., Areva, Atmea and Atomic Energy of Canada Limited. In 2009 the country hired WorleyParsons for $11.3 million to conduct pre-construction work, help set up a new utility and evaluate bids for the reactor. Jordan's Petra news service reported that Jordanian regulators chose Rosatom subsidiary Atomstroyexport to supply the reactor and Rusatom Overseas to operate it. Plans call for the plant east of Zarqa to be online by 2020 and to generate 12 percent of the country's power. While financing arrangements could change and include the possibility of a build-own-operate contract, Russian firms are currently lined up to invest in 49 percent of the plant, with the Jordanian government owning the balance.
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This article is not correct in stating that the design was picked by "Jordanian regulators." The selection was made by the Jordan Atomic Energy Commission, which is responsible for developing Jordan's nuclear power capability. There is a separate Jordan Nuclear Regulatory Commission, which (as far as I can tell) was not involved in the selection process.
As far as the plant site being "near Amman" is concerned, the location is some 60 km east of the city of Zarqa, which--from a map of Jordan-- implies it will be about 50 miles from Amman. Whether that is "near Amman" is, I suppose, a matter of opinion. It's roughly the same as the distance from Washington, D.C. to the Calvert Cliffs nuclear plant in Maryland.
Also, notwithstanding the Petra release, the plant is supposed to have two 1000-MW (electric) units, not one.
Another strong ME ally goes elsewhere... what is our DOC/DOE doing?
Thanks, Anonymous. The story has been updated to correct the information from Petra on the number of reactors.
WNA describes JAEC's duties as including "safety and security, nuclear science and technology, and safeguards and verification." I interpreted these functions as regulatory, but your note on the distinction between the two agencies is appreciated.
-- Peter
Nuclear Street News Team
