Britain signs nuclear deal with energy-parched Jordan

AMMAN (AFP) — Britain signed a preliminary nuclear cooperation deal with Jordan on Sunday, as the desert kingdom scrambles to meet growing energy needs and find alternative sources of power to desalinate water.

"The memorandum will pave the way for signing a cooperation agreement between the two countries later this year," Khaled Tukan, head of the Jordan Atomic Energy Commission told reporters.

He said Britain and Jordan agreed to cooperate on "promoting the establishment of a reliable source of nuclear fuel for future civilian light water nuclear reactors" in the kingdom, which imports around 95 percent of its energy needs.

"The two sides also agreed to work together to develop human resources and nuclear safety, as well as generate power and desalinating water through nuclear energy," he added.

In addition to its lack of energy, the kingdom of some six million people is one of the most water-deprived countries in ...