Research & Development

NuScale And Jordan To Cooperate On Feasibility Study For SMR Deployment

By Kamen Kraev
15 January 2019

15 Jan (NucNet): US-based small modular reactor (SMR) developer NuScale Power has signed an agreement with the Jordan Atomic Energy Commission (JAEC) to evaluate the potential for deployment of NuScale’s SMR nuclear power plant design in Jordan.

NuScale said in a statement that it will cooperate with JAEC on conducting a joint feasibility evaluation of the SMR design to help Jordan’s decision on moving forward with the proposed project as part of the country’s plans to introduce nuclear power.

In June 2018, Jordan scrapped a deal with Russia to build the Middle Eastern kingdom’s first nuclear power station over disagreements on its financing.

JAEC said at the time that the national nuclear programme would be continued and was open to the eventual participation of other technology providers.

State news agency Petra quoted JAEC chairman Khaled Toukan as saying that Jordan was still working on plans to build a commercial reactor of about 1,000 MW, expected to come online around 2029.

Jordan has also signed SMR feasibility study agreements with Rosatom and Rolls-Royce and, according to Mr Toukan, has expressed interest in Chinese SMR technology.

The NuScale SMR is a light-water reactor plant intended to supply energy for electrical generation, district heating, desalination, and process heat applications. It features a fully factory-fabricated NuScale power module capable of generating 60 MW of electricity using a safer, smaller, and scalable version of pressurised water reactor technology.

In January 2017, NuScale became the first company to submit an SMR design for certification in the US. NuScale expects the regulatory review to be completed in September 2020.

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