"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.
The issue of nuclear arms has remained firmly on the Arab world's agenda. Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak called during his speech at the Arab League Summit last week to dismantle nuclear arms in the region, a statement directed at Israel but also, Iran. King Abdallah called in his speech for the setting up of an Arab center for nuclear energy for peaceful purposes. He also called on Israel to join the nuclear non-proliferation treaty and allow its reactors to be placed under international supervision.
Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes.co.il - on April 1, 2007
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