King says Jordan intent on diversifying energy resources

AMMAN — His Majesty King Abdullah on Wednesday underlined the “deep” strategic ties between Jordan and Russia and the need to develop them at all levels, especially in the field of energy. 

At a meeting with head of the Russian Federal Agency for Atomic Energy (Rosatom), Sergei Kiriyenko, the King highlighted the Kingdom’s strategy to diversify energy resources, including the generation of electricity from nuclear energy.

For his part, Kiriyenko stressed his country’s commitment to enhancing cooperation with Jordan to best serve the interest of the two countries, according to a Royal Court statement. 

The Cabinet has selected Russian state-owned firm Rosatom as the preferred vendor to construct a nuclear plant that includes two reactors, each with 1,000-megawatt capacity by 2021.

Jordan and the company are working to conduct detailed studies on the plant and its economic and environment feasibility, in addition to construction and operational costs. 

Also on Monday, Prime Minister Abdullah Ensour met with Kiriyenko and an accompanying delegation and discussed bilateral ties and the government’s energy plans, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.