Senate president visits Leningrad Nuclear Power Plant

AMMAN — Senate President Faisal Fayez on Sunday visited the Leningrad Nuclear Power Plant in Russia and toured its facilities, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported. 

Fayez, who is in St Petersburg upon an invitation by Russia's Federation Council Chairwoman Valentina Matviyenko, was briefed by the plant's director and employees on its generation capacity and contribution to scientific research. 

The director said Russia is now among the "leading countries" in generating power from nuclear energy, noting that its plants use the latest technology that ensures safety and efficiency, according to Petra.

Fayez said Jordan is working on building a nuclear plant to generate electricity, with the help of Russian expertise.

Jordan has recently reached a deal with Rosatom State Nuclear Energy Corporation under which Russia will provide enriched nuclear fuel for the Kingdom's two projected reactors for the first 10 years, after which Jordan has the option of buying nuclear fuel from Russia or any other market.

In March last year, Jordan signed an inter-governmental agreement with Russia to build and operate the nuclear power plant. Russia’s Rosatom will own 49 per cent of the project.

Fayez said the Jordan nuclear programme is a strategic goal for the Kingdom, which seeks to ensure energy security without depending on foreign sources, noting that Jordan currently imports around 95 per cent of its energy needs. 

The Senate president said the nuclear plant, once operational, will give Jordan independence in generating safe power not affected by global political changes. 

In parallel, Jordan also seeks to switch to other means of generating power, such as renewable energy and oil shale, since nuclear energy will only cover around 20 per cent of its needs, he added.