Russia, Jordan to cooperate on nuclear regulation
Russia's nuclear regulator and Jordan's Energy and Minerals Regulatory Commission (EMRC) recently signed an agreement to cooperate in the field of nuclear and radiation safety regulation.
The agreement was signed through correspondence, with EMRC chairman Farouq Al-Hyari signing the document in Amman on 30 March and Alexey Aleshin - chairman of Russia's Federal Environmental, Industrial and Nuclear Supervision Service (Rostechnadzor) - signing it in Moscow on 6 April.
Rostechnadzor said on 7 April that, under the five-year agreement, the two regulators will cooperate in the development of the legislative basis in the field of nuclear and radiation safety. They will also exchange experience in licensing activities as well as exchanging experience in oversight and control activities, including development and implementation of inspection programs.
EMRC and Rostechnadzor will also exchange experience in safety regulation in the management of used nuclear fuel and radioactive wastes, including their transportation and safe storage. They will also share their experience in the supervision of accounting and control of nuclear materials, radioactive substances and radioactive waste, as well as the supervision of physical protection of nuclear installations, radioactive sources, storage facilities, nuclear materials and radioactive substances.
Russia and Jordan signed an intergovernmental agreement on cooperation in nuclear energy in May 2009. The agreement included cooperation in the design and construction of commercial nuclear power plants and research reactors, as well as water desalination plants. It also covered the development of uranium deposits and nuclear fuel cycle facilities, although under the agreement, Russia would supply Jordan with nuclear fuel, which would be returned to Russia once used.
Russia was selected in October 2013 as the preferred bidder to supply Jordan with its first nuclear power plant. The Jordan Atomic Energy Commission said then that the initial reactor of the two-unit plant was expected to start operating in 2020.
In March 2015, Russia and Jordan signed an intergovernmental agreement on cooperation in the construction and operation of the Middle Eastern country's first nuclear power plant. The document envisages construction of two 1000 MWe VVER units in Az-Zarqa, in the central region of Jordan. The document also envisages setting up a project company that will be the customer, operator and owner of the plant, as well as the owner of the electric power it generates.
Researched and written
by World Nuclear News
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