Razzaz reviews Jordan’s nuclear programme progress with Int’l Advisory Group

AMMAN — Prime Minister Omar Razzaz on Thursday met with the members of the International Advisory Group (IAG), tasked with reviewing Jordan’s progress in implementing its nuclear programme, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.

The meeting focused on achieving further progress in building the database needed for the Research and Training Reactor (JRTR) and Synchrotron-light for Experimental Science and Applications in the Middle East (SESAME) to conduct advanced scientific researches in the fields of physics, chemistry, health, archaeology and geology.

As of today, Jordan is the only Arab and Middle Eastern country that has such facilities, according to Petra.

The attendees stressed the importance of exploiting the existence of these facilities at the regional level and of using them as "excellence" centres to train cadres, attract experts and conduct scientific research in all fields.

They also highlighted the importance of using JRTR to produce medical radionuclide and of expanding the use of applications in the nuclear medicine field, which would improve the health sector and its services in the country by providing chemical elements such as Iodine and Technetium. 

The meeting touched on mixing the utilisation of nuclear with renewable power on a day-night basis. When the sun sets, the small nuclear reactors can be used to desalinate water or produce hydrogen, according to Petra. 

Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Hala Zawati and Chairman of the Jordan Atomic Energy Commission Khaled Toukan attended the meeting.

His Majesty King Abdullah laid the cornerstone for the SESAME Centre at Princess Rahma University College in January 2003. 

The JRTR, which was constructed on the Jordan University for Science and Technology campus, was inaugurated under His Majesty's patronage in 2016.  

In 2015, the government approved the formation of the IAG, which is tasked with reviewing Jordan’s progress in implementing its nuclear programme.