Jordan takes first steps toward a civilian nuclear program

The official Petra news agency announced today that Jordan has signed a landmark deal with a South Korean consortium to construct the Hashemite Kingdom's first nuclear research reactor. The $130 million agreement will establish the 5-megawatt reactor at the Jordan University for Science and Technology near Irbid by 2014. The chairman of Jordan's Atomic Energy Commission explained that the reactor will function as a training facility for Jordanian nuclear scientists and technicians, who will ultimately be responsible for developing the country's civilian nuclear program.