Jordan’s 1st Nuclear Research Reactor

A consortium comprising KAERI and Daewoo E&C wins the deal

Korea has finally concluded an estimated 150 billion won deal to build Jordan’s first nuclear research reactor by 2015. A Korean consortium comprising the state-run Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute (KAERI) and Daewoo E&C signed a formal contract on the Jordan Research and Training Reactor (JRTR) with the Jordan Atomic Energy Commission (JAEC) at the Jordanian prime minister’s official residence in Amman on March 30. Attending the signing ceremony were Ahn Byong-man, Korean minister of education, science and technology (MEST); Yang Myung-seung, KAERI president; Suh Jong-wook, president of Daewoo E&C; Samir Rifai, prime minister of Jordan; and Khaled Toukan, the JAEC chairman.
Korea’s successful landing of the nuclear research reactor contract from Jordan is the second one following Korea’s deal on four nuclear power plants from the United Arab Emirates late last December. Under the agreement, the Korean team will build the reactor, a radioactive isotope manufacturing facility and related buildings over the next five years.
Korea has finally exported a nuclear research reactor built using its own technology 50 years since the nation introduced a nuclear research facility in 1959.
The Korean consortium emerged as a preferred negotiation partner last Dec. 4 after outbidding Argentina, Russia and China. The consortium held several rounds of negotiations before signing a formal contract after receiving a letter of acceptance on the project from the JAEC on Jan. 10.
Under the latest deal, the Korean consortium will build the 5MW-class JRTR and other facilities within the campus of Jordan University of Science and Technology in Irbid, 70 km north of Amman. It plans to start the construction of the projected facilities in June, dedicate them by July 2014 and test-operate the reactor before handing it over to the Jordanian side. Following the inauguration of the projected facilities, Korea will be charged with educating manpower responsible for operation and safety management.
MEST Minister Ahn said, “All stages of constructing the Jordanian nuclear research reactor, ranging from design and production to construction and operation will be made with Korea’s own technology. And Korea’s nuclear power technology is recognized internationally and it has established a bridgehead to enter the global nuclear research reactor market.”
KAERI President Yang told reporters in Amman that Korea will devote itself to building the world’s best research reactor for Jordan.
There are approximately 240 research reactors in operation around the world, 65 percent of which are more than 30 years old, so the demand for replacments is predicted to rise. Some 40 nations are forecast to have 50 new research reactors in the next 15 years, most of which are in the 2-20MW range. nw

Korea won a deal to build Jordan’s first nuclear research reactor by 2015.

(below) Yang Myung-seung, president of the Korea Atomic Research Institute, and Daewoo E&C President Suh Jong-wook sign a contract on the deal with Khaled Toukan, chairman of the Jordan Atomic Energy Commission as Jordanian Prime Minister Samir Rifai and Korean Minister of Education, Science and Technology Ahn Byong-man look at the background.