Amman, which is seeking to develop a civilian nuclear energy program, signed preliminary nuclear cooperation agreements with Canada and Britain in late June. It signed the first such agreement with France at the end of May.
"By signing the agreements, Jordan is seeking to receive from these countries the technology to build a nuclear reactor for power generation," the Jordanian official said.
Jordan plans to have a nuclear power plant up and running within eight years. It will take about three years to prepare economic feasibility studies on the reactor project.
Jordan is currently choosing a location for the project. Three sites in Akaba on the Red Sea are being considered.
Tukan said the Atomic Energy Commission was also negotiating with three international companies involved in uranium prospecting and development. The talks are expected to yield a contract later this summer to explore uranium fields in central Jordan.
