On October 8th, 2020, the second part of the College of Nuclear Science and Technology International Student's country presentations is held Online via the Tencent platform due to the COVID-19 situation. Mr. Ibrahim Alfasatleh, a Ph.D. Student from the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan presented the Culture and Nuclear Power Profile of his country.
v Land and Climate, People and History
Jordan is a country strategically located at the crossroads of Asia, Africa, and Europe. As Mr. Ibrahim said, Jordan consists mainly of a plateau between 700 and 1,200 m of elevation and has Mediterranean and desert climates. With 10,583,821 people (2020 est.), there are 97.2 % of Muslim, 2.2 % of Christian, and 0.6 % for others). The ethnic group majority in Jordan is Arab (98 %).
There were three kingdoms during the Iron Age (c. 1200-332 BCE): Edom in the south, Moab in central Jordan, and Ammon in the northern mountain areas.
Mr. Ibrahim again mentioned the Nabateans that established an independent kingdom in 169 BC. In the Islamic Era, the Land of Jordan has remained almost continuously in the hands of various Arab and Islamic dynasties.
Jordan also has some famous cities and places, including Amman (the Capital), Petra (the lost city of stone), and other wonderful touristic sites.
v Jordan Nuclear Power profile
Mr. Ibrahim mentioned Jordan's energy dependency (96 % of total energy needs from imported oil and natural gas).
Jordanian Atomic Energy Commission (JAEC) is responsible for developing and implanting the nuclear program and Jordanian National Regulatory Commission (JNRC) to regulate, monitor, control, and issue licenses for nuclear applications.
Nuclear facilities in Jordan include Gamma Irradiator, Centralized Storage Facility (CSF), Jordan Research & Training Reactor (JRTR), etc.
Mr. Ibrahim concluded his presentation by the Jordan Nuclear Power Plant Project. He said that the project would supply about 40 % of Jordan's electricity needs by 2025-2026.
