Global Security Newswire

Jordan and Russia initialed a preliminary nuclear cooperation deal yesterday, laying the groundwork for construction of nuclear power and water desalination plants, the Jordan Times reported.

The deal calls for Russia to fuel the reactors and to take back the spent material, according to Kamal Araj, deputy chairman of the Jordan Atomic Energy Commission (see GSN, May 15, 2008). Signature of a final agreement, also intended to address uranium mining in Jordan, is expected next month.

Jordan has been actively pursuing nuclear support, signing cooperation deals in the past year with China (see GSN, Nov. 26, 2008), France (see GSN, Feb. 13), and South Korea (see GSN, Dec. 1, 2008). In addition, it hopes to sign accords with Romania and the United Kingdom in April, according to the Times.

The large field of competitors has not fazed Russia.

"We know that there is competition and we are prepared for it. We have been in this business for a very long time. We have a very developed nuclear energy industry in our country," said Nikolai Spassky of Russia's state-run nuclear firm (Mohammad Ghazal, Jordan Times, Feb. 27).