AMMAN: The nuclear reactor that Jordan seeks to build by 2020 will cost about $5 billion, said Chairman of the Jordan Atomic Energy Commission Khalid Toukan on Thursday.
| Assuming it's ever built... |
Toukan defended the controversial project before the lower house of Parliament, where head of the chamberÂ’s Legal Committee Mahmoud Kharabsheh alleged the venture would cost about $20 billion and overburden the countryÂ’s already cash-strapped treasury.
Kharabsheh also questioned the economic feasibility and safety of the project, saying it would jeopardize the countryÂ’s environment.
Toukan said that the government so far concluded nuclear cooperation agreements with 12 countries, including Spain, France, Russia and Britain. An effort to conclude a similar agreement with the US has reportedly faltered under IsraelÂ’s pressure.
“The third generation nuclear reactor to be built in Jordan is one of the most developed reactors and will be completely safe,” Toukan said. “Besides, the generation of electricity by using nuclear energy will be economically feasible.”
Toukan also defended assigning the exploration and exploitation of local uranium ores to the French group AREVA, saying the firm is an arm of the French government and can be trusted to do the job.
| And if you can't trust the French government on an insider contract, who can you trust? |
“Uranium is available in Jordan in commercial quantities” that will feed the projected Jordanian and regional nuclear reactors, he said. |