In a signing ceremony on Sept. 10, Toukan said the cooperation agreement
would pave the way for Japan to transfer nuclear technology to Amman.
The official said Japan, which plans to ratify the agreement in October, has
been negotiating for the sale of a nuclear energy reactor to Jordan.
Japan's Mitsubishi Heavy Industries has formed a consortium with
France's Areva to offer ATMEA1 reactor technology to Jordan. The consortium
was one of three competitors on the short list of the Jordan Atomic Energy
Commission. The other finalists were companies from Canada and Russia.
"This agreement will provide a framework for cooperation in the field of
nuclear energy between Japan and Jordan for a long period of time," Kiyoshi
Asako, the charge d'affairs of the Japanese embassy in Amman, said.
Jordan has pursued a project to build a 1,000 megawatt nuclear reactor
by 2019 in an effort to reduce imports of crude oil and natural gas. The
kingdom has signed nuclear cooperation agreements with eight countries,
including Britain, China, France and Russia.
Officials said an award for Jordan's nuclear contract could take place
around 2013. They said final offers would be received in mid-2011.
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