On Monday, Jordan announced that Russia's Rosatom will build and operate two 1,000 megawatt reactors near Amman.
Jordan has deliberated plans for a nuclear plant since 2007, according to the World Nuclear Association, at various times considering reactors from Korea Electric Power Co., Areva, Atmea and Atomic Energy of Canada Limited. In 2009 the country hired WorleyParsons for $11.3 million to conduct pre-construction work, help set up a new utility and evaluate bids for the reactor.
Jordan's Petra news service reported that Jordanian regulators chose Rosatom subsidiary Atomstroyexport to supply the reactor and Rusatom Overseas to operate it. Plans call for the plant east of Zarqa to be online by 2020 and to generate 12 percent of the country's power. While financing arrangements could change and include the possibility of a build-own-operate contract, Russian firms are currently lined up to invest in 49 percent of the plant, with the Jordanian government owning the balance.