Jordan Nuclear Power Plant Project (JNPP)

The Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan seeks to achieve energy and water security in addition to keeping pace with the ever-growing demand for these resources. By Law No. 42, JAEC was empowered to lead the development of the Jordanian Nuclear Power Plant, utilizing the strategic projects of Uranium exploration, Jordan Research and Training Reactor, and the development of required national human resources, aiming to eventually achieve the vision of His Majesty King Abdullah II in which he announced that Jordan will be a model in the peaceful utilization of nuclear energy.

The JNPP Project aims to deploy a commercially and technologically viable nuclear power plant that will be utilized for electricity generation and water desalination, solving the two major challenges in Jordan and enhancing the self-sufficiency in these sovereignty-crucial fields.

Energy

Jordan Imports almost 96% of its energy needs from outside the country. In order to achieve more stable and independent economic status, Jordan must focus on reducing its reliance on imported fuel and replacing the impeding gap. This shows that the amount of energy required in the future is going to be significant and crucial for the sustainable development of the country.

Water

One of the major challenges that the kingdom is facing and will be facing in the future is limited access to clean water, where the water availability per capita is way below the scarcity limits. Surface water is very limited and there is a heavy reliance on groundwater where the extraction and pumping are energy intensive due to the depths of aquifers and their very long distances from population centers. With that said, water desalination is considered the most vital water supply of the near future in Jordan further increasing the country’s energy requirement. A large component of the cost of water will be contingent on the cost of electricity. Therefore, a base-load, reliable, and scalable energy resource is required post-2030 to ensure the success of the desalination and conveyance projects in Jordan, one of the best-fit energy resource that can serve the case in Jordan is the nuclear power plant.

Technology

JAEC teams are presently engaged in the assessment of reactor technologies, with the goal of shortlisting the most viable small modular reactor (SMR) designs from internationally recognized vendors. Additionally, JAEC is leveraging insights from prior large Nuclear Power Plant (NPP)-related studies to benefit the SMR project. This includes infrastructure studies, technological assessments, contractual studies, and more.
Feasibility studies are currently underway in collaboration with various SMR vendors, involving both national stakeholders and international partners. This collaborative effort is geared towards accelerating JAEC’s progress in deploying Jordan’s first NPP

Jordan Nuclear Program