International Renewable Energy Agency Director General Adnan Amin would rather see Jordan develop renewable energy than rely on nuclear power.
“Our belief is that renewable energy is the most viable approach for the future and much more environmentally safe,” said Amin at a recent interview with The Jordan Times on the sidelines of “Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week” last week.
By way of justifying his case, the official went on to say that “the costs of renewable energy are much cheaper than nuclear energy”, an argument to which few would find fault.
The IRENA head also said that “green energy will be the main driver of the economy in the future”, something most countries in the world are aware of and many are actually relying on.
In his opinion, Jordan would be making a big mistake by forsaking renewable energy in favour of nuclear power, especially knowing that the country is blessed with an average of 330 days of sunshine annually and that the yet untapped aeolian energy also holds economic promises.
The government might wish to rethink its energy strategy before taking the nuclear route to solve the country’s acute energy crisis.
If indeed — and experience around the world seems to corroborate it — developing solar and wind could be much more viable economically, and, above all, safer, why should Jordan not focus on these sources?
The government says it has yet to make a final decision regarding nuclear power.
The right thing to do, then, is to have this issue put to a national referendum and debated in Parliament before a decision is taken.
One is aware of the problem, of the dire need for energy, but safety, alongside financial considerations, should top any other consideration.
