CONSULTING

However, Rosatom highlighted the “need to prepare for signing two intergovernmental
agreements—one on nuclear power plant construction and one on financing”. 109
In November 2015, an intergovernmental agreement was signed for the construction of four
VVER-1200 reactors at Dabaa. The deal, was apparently worth €20-22 billion with Russia
providing up to 90 percent of the finance, 110 to be paid back through the sale of electricity. Reports
suggest that a spokesman for Rosatom said the first plant could be completed by 2022 111 , which
is technically impossible, given that construction, if at all, would not start for another two years.
In May 2016, it was announced that Egypt concluded a US$25 billion loan with Russia for nuclear
construction. 112 According to the Egyptian official journal, the loan is to cover 85 percent of the
project cost, with the total investment thus estimated at around US$29.4 billion. The 3 percent -
annual-interest loan is to be paid back over 22 years starting in 2029. 113
Influential policy makers in Jordan have long desired the acquisition of a nuclear power plant.
In 2007, the government established the Jordan Atomic Energy Commission (JAEC) and the Jordan
Nuclear Regulatory Commission. JAEC started conducting a feasibility study on nuclear power,
including a comparative cost/benefit analysis. 114 In November 2009, JAEC awarded an
US$11.3 million contract to Australian engineering company WorleyParsons for pre-construction
consulting for Jordan’s first nuclear power plant. 115 WorleyParsons was “to evaluate the nuclear
power plant technology most suitable for Jordan (…) conduct a feasibility study and financial
assessment of the project, as well as assist in [issuing] the tender for the plant vendor”. 116 In
Jordanian energy plans from that period, the timeline assumed for starting nuclear power
production was as early as 2015. 117
JAEC and WorleyParsons narrowed down the choices to the ATMEA-1 design from AREVA and
Mitsubishi (as projected in Turkey); the Enhanced Candu-6 (EC6) from Atomic Energy of Canada
Limited; the APR-1400 118 from Korea Electric Power Corporation, and the AES-2006 and AES-92
variants of the VVER design from Rosatom. 119 Eventually, the ability of Rosatom to potentially
109 Rosatom, “Russia Helps Egypt To Explore Opportunities Of Nuclear Power Plant Construction”,
10 February 2015, see http://rosatom.ru/en/press-centre/news/124-russia-helps-egypt-to-exploreopportunities-of-nuclear-power-plant-construction/,
accessed 1 July 2016.
110 NIW, Cairo and Moscow Ink Deal for Four-Unit Dabaa Plant, 20 November 2015.
111 Reuters, “Egypt, Russia sign deal to build a nuclear power plant”, 19 November 2015, see
http://www.reuters.com/article/us-nuclear-russia-egypt-idUSKCN0T81YY20151119, accessed 1 July 2016.
112 Reuters, ”Russia to lend Egypt $25 billion to build nuclear power plant”, 19 May 2016, see
http://www.reuters.com/article/us-egypt-russia-nuclear-idUSKCN0YA1G5, accessed 1 July 2016.
113 NIW, “Egypt Approves $25 Billion Loan From Russia for Nuclear Project”, 20 May 2016.
114 Mark Hibbs., “Jordan reactor siting study to be done in 2009, JAEC says”, NW, xlviii, 2007.
115 Ann MacLachlan, “Worley Parsons to Help Jordan Run Program for First Nuclear Power Plant”, NW, 2009.
116 WNN, “Worley Parsons awarded Jordanian contract”, 16 November 2009, see http://www.worldnuclear-news.org/C-Worley_Parsons_awarded_Jordanian_contract-1611094.html,
accessed 1 July 2016.
117 Energy Tribune, “Jordan Wants Nuclear Power, Signs Agreements with Spain, France”, 2 February 2010,
see http://www.energytribune.com/3375/jordan-wants-nuclear-power-signs-agreements-with-spain-france,
accessed 1 July 2016.
118 APR = Advanced Power Reactor
119 Ann MacLachlan, “Worley Parsons to Help Jordan Run Program for First Nuclear Power Plant”, NW, 2009.
Mycle Schneider, Antony Froggatt et al. 50 World Nuclear Industry Status Report 2016