US-based NuScale Power said it has signed an agreement with the Jordan Atomic Energy Commission (JAEC) to explore unique capabilities and benefits of its small module reactor (SMR) nuclear power plant in the Arab country.

The agreement continues to showcase the immense international interest in NuScale’s innovative nuclear technology, said a statement from NuScale Power, which is majority-owned by global engineering and construction giant Fluor Corporation.

JAEC is the government entity leading the development and implementation of nuclear strategy and managing the nuclear program in the kingdom.

Through this MoU, NuScale and JAEC will collaborate on conducting a joint feasibility evaluation of NuScale’s SMR, which will inform Jordanina body's decision on moving forward with the project as part of its planned deployment of nuclear power plants.

NuScale Power Chairman and CEO John Hopkins said: "As Jordan considers its energy future, I’m confident that the unmatched resiliency and safety features of NuScale’s SMR technology make us the ideal partner on the Kingdom’s nuclear power goals."

NuScale’s technology is the world’s first and only SMR to undergo design certification review by the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission, and is scheduled to complete its review of NuScale’s design in September 2020.

“We look forward to using the agreement to showcase our SMR’s unique capabilities, cost benefits, and flexibility, all which demonstrate what a game-changer this technology will be for Jordan,” he noted.

JAEC Chairman Dr Khaled Toukan said NuScale was at the forefront of US SMR Technology.

NuScale Power is developing a new modular light water reactor nuclear power plant to supply energy for electrical generation, district heating, desalination, and other process heat applications.

This groundbreaking SMR design features a fully factory-fabricated NuScale Power Module capable of generating 60MW of electricity using a safer, smaller, and scalable version of pressurized water reactor technology.

NuScale’s scalable design – a power plant can house up to 12 individual power modules – offers the benefits of carbon-free energy and reduces the financial commitments associated with gigawatt-sized nuclear facilities.

"We look forward to this collaboration to assess the viability and potential for deployment of NuScale SMR Technology in Jordan," noted Dr Toukan.

Current projects for JAEC include the uranium mining in Jordan and the Nuclear Power Plant (NPP) development and implementation (including SMRs), he added.-TradeArabia News Service