His Majesty King Abdullah on Sunday called for speeding up the Jordanian nuclear programme, stressing that energy remains a top challenge that requires long-term solutions.

Chairing a meeting of the High Commission on Nuclear Energy Strategy, the King underlined the need to secure and utilize alternative local energy resources, both traditional and renewable, in order to decrease the Kingdom's reliance on energy imports.

In January, the King highlighted Jordan's need to develop nuclear capabilities for peaceful purposes.

Commission vice president, Minister of Education and Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research Khalid Touqan, briefed the meeting on the progress of the nuclear energy programme.

Touqan said the panel has assessed the nuclear power generation option against available natural resources in Jordan so as to ensure that such a process is economically feasible.

By the end of 2030, generated nuclear power is expected to provide 30 per cent of the overall generated energy in the Kingdom, Touqan told the meeting.

The Jordan Times