Jordan's first nuclear power reactor to be ready by 2025

To meet rising demand for electricity, Jordan on Saturday said its first nuclear power reactor would be ready by 2025, Xinhua cited a report by Petra news agency.

"The reactor with a total capacity of 1,000 megawatts will be ready and connected to the grid by 2025," Ahmad Hiyasat, director general of the state-owned Jordan Nuclear Power Company, said.

He mentioned another reactor with the same amount of capacity would be ready shortly after the first one.

The official added that Jordan and Russia are currently conducting environmental impact studies on the location of the reactors and the water supply needed.

Studies are also underway to determine the best means of financing the project, which will cost around $10 billion, he noted.

In October 2013, Jordan approved Russia's Atomstroyexport, a leading nuclear power service exporter, as technology provider for Jordan's first nuclear plant.

Jordan, which imports some 97 percent of its energy needs, seeks to rely more on local resources of uranium in addition to oil shale and renewable energy.