Jordan has entered into advanced talks with Russia and France for the construction of the country's first nuclear reactor, energy officials said Sunday, as a solution to the kingdom's chronic energy woes.
The kingdom currently imports 98 per cent of its energy needs, at a cost of one-fifth of its gross domestic product, dpa reported.
According to the country's atomic energy agency, Amman has entered talks with a consortium comprising French firm AREVA and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, and Russian state-owned Atomstroy export to construct up to two 1,100 Megawatt reactors by 2020.
Jordan had been expected to choose one vendor this month, but decided to enter parallel negotiations due to the "competitiveness" of the two offers.
AREVA is currently carrying out exploration of uranium reserves in central Jordan - estimated at some 20,000 tonnes - which officials have pegged as fuel for the country's nuclear power programme.
Amman has prioritised nuclear power energy as key to Jordan's energy independence.