Jordan has signed a $10bn energy deal with Russia to set up a 2,000MW nuclear power plant in the country.
Once built, the facility will be the first in the country to generate nuclear power, reports Reuters.
Under the terms of the deal, Russia’s nuclear power corporation Rosatom will construct a two-unit facility at Amra in north Jordan by 2022.
Jordan Atomic Energy Commission (JAEC) chairman Khaled Toukan said: "The Russian technology we chose in a very competitive process suits Jordan’s needs in terms of power generation and the ability to produce electricity at very competitive prices."
Commercial operation for the first of two planned constructions is expected to initiate after 2022. Two years after that, the second unit is expected to be commissioned.
The country presently derives 98% of its power requirements from oil products and crude.
Power demand in Jordan is rising by more than 7% annually due to population growth and industrial expansion, which has been pushing the country to seek additional means for energy production.
The country expects nuclear power to meet 40% of its power needs in the future.
The nuclear deal with Russia is expected to open up opportunities for nuclear fuel exchange between the countries.
Rosatom CEO Sergey Kiriyenko was quoted by the news agency as saying: "The nuclear power plant is the embodiment of a strategic partnership."
