[E&E seminars] Special Seminar - Friday - Dr. Khaled Toukan, Chairman Jordan Atomic Energy Commission

[Jameson Twomey]

The Center for Advanced Nuclear Energy Systems

A Special Seminar

3pm, Friday June 11, 2010,  Room 24-213

Challenges Facing Emerging Nuclear States:
 Jordan as a Case Study

Dr.  Khaled Toukan
Chairman, Jordan Atomic Energy Commission


ABSTRACT
Forty three countries, mostly in the developing world, are currently considering nuclear energy as part of their energy mix. However, many of them have limited industrial capacity. They face several challenges:  high investment cost, security of nuclear fuel supply, development of appropriate waste management technologies and the absence of regulatory framework. Jordan presents a clear case for a country working to circumvent these challenges.

The uncertainty about energy supplies and their costs are severely affecting the growth of the country's economy and its security. Jordan imports more than 95 percent of its energy needs. Hence, the development of secure alternative energy supplies is a top priority for the Kingdom. Our vision is to transform Jordan from a net energy importer to a net electricity exporter by 2030. This will require a major shift away from fossil fuels to low-cost clean power. Nuclear power leverages Jordan's indigenous uranium resources.  The Kingdom is endowed with rich uranium resources that have not be exploited,

Since 2001, Jordan has been developing a national strategy for civilian nuclear power. In 2007, Jordan’s Parliament empowered the Jordan Atomic Energy Commission (JAEC) to lead the national effort.  Parliament also established an independent Jordan Nuclear Regulatory Commission to promulgate the needed legal, regulatory and security framework for the introduction of nuclear power.

To address human resource development, a nuclear engineering degree program was established in 2007 at the Jordan University of Science and Technology and a 5MW nuclear research reactor will be built by the Korean consortium KAERI/DAEWOO at the university, for education, training and radioisotope production.

Jordan has signed eight Nuclear Cooperation Agreements with key countries such as France, China, South Korea, Canada, UK, Russia, Argentina and Spain to explore appropriate technologies with several suppliers and establish avenues of cooperation with different countries.

To undertake uranium exploitation, JAEC established Jordan Energy Resources Incorporated.  A mining agreement was signed with AREVA in February 2010 for uranium exploitation in Central Jordan.


BIO
Dr. Khaled Toukan was appointed by a Royal Decree as the Chairman of the newly organized Jordan Atomic Energy Commission on  March 17, 2008. He previously held the position of Minister of Education for the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan from 2000 to 2007., Minister of Higher Education (2001-2002) and (2005-2007) and President of Al-Balqa Applied University (1997-2001). Dr. Toukan holds a Ph.D. in Nuclear Engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (1978-1982), an M.Sc. degree in Nuclear Engineering from University of Michigan (1976-1978), and a B.E. degree in Electrical Engineering from The American University of Beirut (1971-1976).  Dr Toukan’s awards include the UNESCO Ghandi Medal of Peace (2003), the Royal Grand Gordon of Alkukab Al-Urduni (2003), Legion de Honore from the French Republic (2004), and Commanders Cross of the Order of Merit from the Federal Republic of Germany (2006) and King Hussein's Medal of Excellence (2008).
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