Tuesday 28 November 2017

Jordan assesses nuclear reactor for potential deployment

The Jordan Atomic Energy Commission (JAEC) is assessing an advanced nuclear reactor and its potential for deployment in the country.

It has signed a Memorandum of Understanding for evaluating X-energy’s ‘Xe-100’ reactor, which uses factory-produced components and is said to require less time to build.

Dr Khaled Toukan, JAEC Chairman said: “The HTR’s [High Temperature Reactor] potential once implemented provides Jordan with opportunities that include both electric generation and non-electric utilisations such as water desalination and industrial applications and is the nexus between third and fourth generation technologies.”

Jordan aims to transform from a net importer of energy to an exporter by 2030 and expects to use nuclear power as part of the energy mix.

Some of the major challenges the JAEC has identified that must be dealt with to move forward with the development of nuclear power include exploitation of uranium ores, funding, nuclear fuel cycle and waste management and readiness of the state and the political environment.