Campaigners step up their lobbying for a nuclear-free Jordan as the final decision with regards to the chosen firm approaches. The Jordanian government will pick the firm which will build Jordan’s first nuclear station in May.

Greenpeace campaigners in Jordan have urged the government to consider “the dire risks” the proposed nuclear project will have on current and future generations. “Nuclear reactors can never be safe. That is the reality,” said Safa’ Jayoussi, Greenpeace Climate and Energy Campaigner in Jordan. “It is time the government takes seriously our proposition for an energy policy based on renewables.” Greenpeace have issued a report entitled ‘The Future of Energy in Jordan’ illustrating the vast potential for renewable energy in the form of wind and solar energy.

The report states that Jordan’s lack of nuclear expertise alongside serious challenges such as a lack of cooling water, existing grid weakness and seismic concerns, make the proposed nuclear project a real threat to Jordanians. Renewable energy resources – particularly solar, however – can technically provide sixty times more than Jordan’s electricity consumption in 2050.

Greenpeace asserts that a vision for a nuclear free Jordan is possible, and a bold vision for 100% renewable is in fact attainable by 2050 and will contribute significantly to the local economy with the creation of more than one hundred thousand direct and indirect jobs, and a saving of over $19 billion (on a present value basis) by 2050.More than 20 million Jordanian Dinars being spent over the past five years on the nuclear power program.

Hoda Baraka, Greenpeace Communications Officer said; “Jordan has tremendous potential for utilizing wind and solar sources of energy making this a viable and safe substitute to nuclear. The Jordanian people deserve a bright future away from the nuclear gloom.”

Greenpeace calls on the Jordanian Prime Minister to listen to the people and issue a decision to stop the proposed nuclear program.

To sign the Greenpeace anti-nuclear petition, visit their website. They currently have over 5,000 signatories.

For more on Jordan and it’s nuclear plans: 

Jordan’s Nuclear Plans Doomed Says Industry Expert

Greenpeace Assess Jordan’s Energy Future Without Nuclear

Basel Burgan – A Force Behind Jordan’s Anti-Nuke Movement

The post ‘Our Jordan is Not Nuclear’ Say Greenpeace Activists appeared first on Green Prophet.

The report’s authors, Stephen Thomas and Shukri Halaby, have a two-prong aim: to refute the argument that only nuclear power can provide requisite capacity at low cost, and demonstrate that nuclear generation is not an essential part of Jordan’s future energy mix.

The report states:

“Renewable energy resources – particularly solar – can technically provide sixty times more than Jordan’s electricity consumption in 2050. More important, is that the economics of solar and wind is feasible today, and with the declining cost structure of these technologies, they will be at and below cost parity with other indigenous fossil fuel based power generation. Economic modelling results show that a target of 100% renewable energy by 2050 can be attained and can lead to total accumulated savings of approximately $80 billion (or $12 billion in present value terms), while providing 30,000 new jobs.”

Jordan’s Energy Sector Strategy, established in 2007, planned integration of renewables into the national energy grid at 7% capacity by 2015 and 10% by 2020.  But continued dependence on subsidized natural gas (imported from Egypt) has undermined meaningful progress in both development of renewable energy projects and efforts to mandate energy efficiency. As of 2011, the government had failed to initiate any significant steps towards meeting renewable goals. There have been recent developments:

• Last April, Jordan’s Parliament adopted the Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Law (REEL), primarily aimed at inciting private-sector investment in Jordan’s nonexistent commercial renewable energy sector.
• Regulations come into effect this April making solar water heaters obligatory for every new residence (including apartments) sized 150 m2 or greater. Private houses sized a minimum of 250 m2 and office spaces sized a minimum 100 m2 must also comply.
• A feed-in-tariff, allowing residents to sell domestically produced power back to the national grid, was recently adopted: although it’s a bit of a Trojan Horse given that so few homes are geared up to generate solar energy. The Ministry of Energy and the Jordan River Foundation have teamed up to provide $1.8 million in loans to purchase and install all necessary equipment, but in this nation where many scramble to fuel their cars and warm their houses, there is scant interest or ability to invest in new technology.

Meanwhile, the Jordan Atomic Energy Commission is working to bring 4GW of nuclear generation online by 2030, sufficient capacity to serve over 50% of Jordan’s anticipated consumption requirements. The first of these plants, planned to go live in 2020, has been stalled in part by strong public opposition.

The Greenpeace report calls for urgent renewables development, citing repeated disruption of Egyptian gas supplies, uncertain pricing, and the unattractive contingency of shifting to imported oil derivatives that come with even higher price tags.

Greenpeace continues to emphasize on the need for a full national strategy to lessen reliance on foreign energy imports through renewable energies making this the most viable substitute to nuclear and carbon energy.

Image of anti-nuclear protestor via Greenpeace Jordan facebook page

The post Greenpeace Assesses Jordan’s Energy Future Without Nuclear Option appeared first on Green Prophet.

Following a dispute over the details of their joint contract, the Jordanian government has parted ways with the french company AREVA

Back in 2010, the Jordanian government granted exclusive uranium extraction rights for nuclear energy to the French company AREVA. It has now been announced that the mining license has been cancelled following a dispute over whether the license covered prospecting or both exploration and mining. Given the exclusive nature of the contract, Greenpeace are now calling on the government to clarify whether this “announcement means the end of all urnanium mining plans.” And if there is no uranium to supply their nuclear power plants, is there still a future for Jordan’s nuclear ambitions?

In a public statement Greenpeace said: “The dispute between the company and the Jordanian government… leads us to question the facts related to the deal itself and the planning processes involved in approving uranium extraction, which poses unacceptable health and environmental risks. ”

The Jordan Atomic Energy Commission has previously claimed that local uranium will be used in the planned nuclear energy reactor. However, Greenpeace are now calling on the government to announce the full cancellation of the reator bidding process now that its clear that nuclear power will only deepen foreign dependence for energy generation.

“As Fukushima and Chernobyl have shown, nuclear power poses an unacceptable risk to the environment and to human health,” Greenpeace said in a statment. “Clean renewable energy solutions are available to generate power and help Jordan to secure its energy needs.” According to a report in the Jordan Times, AREVA’s departure marks a setback to Jordan’s uranium mining aspirations, which were to help fuel up to four planned 1,000-megawatt nuclear reactors to wean the country off energy imports.

For more on Jordan’s Nuclear Plans see: 

King Abdullah: Israel Is Disrupting Jordan’s Nuclear Plans

Jordan Suspends Its Nuclear Plans Amid Controversy

Jordanians Step Up Nuclear Protests

Jordan Plunges Itself Into A Pit of Shale Oil Hell

: Image of camels in Wadi Rum via Shutterstock.com

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Activists gathered on the streets of Amman today to say ‘No’ to nuclear energy and ‘Yes’ to renewables

Following years of anti-nuclear campaigning and (more recent) controversy surrounding Jordan’s nuclear programme, Greenpeace activists in Jordan are stepping up their protests. They gathered today to launch a public dialogue about the dangers of nuclear energy and to push for a comprehensive national renewable energy strategy outside the headquarters of the Jordan Atomic Energy Commission (JAEC). Activists held a large banner that read “For a Sustainable Jordan: No to Nuclear Power,” while others carried out a street theatre activity demanding the government consider greener energy options such as solar and wind power. 

The timing of this action is critical in light of recent accusations that the JAEC is violating a binding parliamentary motion issued earlier this year requiring officials to halt all work on the country’s first energy reactor, pending the completion of financial feasibility and environmental impact assessments. “It is disconcerting, to say the least, that the JAEC is willing to overlook the parliamentary motion,” said Safa’ Jayoussi, Greenpeace Local Coordinator in Jordan. “We are here to remind the government of the pressing need to reassess the country’s energy policy bearing in mind the threats emanating from a nuclear agenda.” The participants demanded the government cancel the nuclear project and invest in safer and more effective energy options.

Whilst promoting the halt of nuclear generation, Greenpeace campaigners also want to raise awareness of the potential for renewable energy in Jordan. “It is time for a full national strategy to lessen reliance on foreign energy imports through renewable energies,” Greenpeace Communications Officer Hoda Baraka said. “Jordan has tremendous potential for utilizing wind and solar sources of energy making this the most viable substitute to nuclear and carbon energy.”

:: Photo via Greenpeace Jordan.

For more on Jordan and its nuclear plans see:

Jordan Suspend Its Nuclear Plans Amid Controversy

Greenpeace Raises More Questions Over Jordan’s Nuclear Plans

Jordanians Step Up Nuclear Protests

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