S. Korean consortium secures approval to build test reactor in Jordan

DAEJEON -- A South Korean consortium has secured approval from Jordan's nuclear watchdog to build a research reactor in the Middle Eastern country following a two-year review, the South Korean developers said Sunday.

The Jordan Nuclear Regulatory Commission gave its final approval for the construction of the Jordan Research and Training Reactor (JRTR) on Saturday, according to the Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute (KAERI). The consortium includes South Korea's Daewoo Engineering & Construction Co.

The JRTR project began in 2009 when the South Korean consortium was named the successful bidder. The foundation work and the construction of a training facility have already been completed, according to KAERI.

With the approval from Jordan's nuclear commission, the construction of the nuclear reactor will soon commence for completion by 2016, KAERI said.

The JRTR, a 5-megawatt reactor, will be Jordan's first nuclear reactor located at the Jordan University of Science and Technology in Irbid.

"The approval from Jordan's nuclear commission once again certified that our country's nuclear technology satisfies international safety standards," said Oh Soo-yeol, a KAERI official in charge of the JRTR project. "We believe this will help boost sales of Korean research reactors in the global market." (Yonhap)