Jordan and Russia will sign an agreement in September to start preparations in the establishment of Jordan's first nuclear power plant, according to the head of Jordan's Atomic Energy Commission Khaled Toukan.

Toukan made the announcement to reporters last week after a meeting with officials from the International Atomic Energy Agency. He said they will sign the deal in Moscow with state-run nuclear tech firm Rosatom Corporation.

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This is the second agreement that the two countries will sign regarding the development of a nuclear power plant in Jordan. The deal will include a study on the plant's impact on the environment, roads, infrastructure and the capability of Jordan's power grid to deliver the power produced by the plant.

Rosatom will conduct the studies together with various Russian research firms and agencies that specialize in nuclear and radiation safety. They will also determine the cost of building the reactor and the cost of the electricity that it will generate.

The studies are expected to be completed after two years with a total cost of around US$65 million. The Jordanian government will finance the cost.

The two countries signed their first agreement in October 2013 when the Jordanian government selected Russia to build two nuclear reactors. Russian company Atomstroyexport will  provide the technology for the reactor while Rosatom will be in charge of construction and operation.

The construction of the plant will be about US$10 billion in which Rosatom and the Jordanian government agreed to split the cost at 49 percent and 51 percent respectively.

Jordan plans to built two nuclear reactors by 2022 with each reactor providing 1,000 megawatts of power.

The two nations are also expected to sign another agreement before the end of the year to express their commitment to the project.

Jordan is the third Arab state after the United Arab Emirates and Egypt to pursue the development of a nuclear plant.

TagsNuclear Power Plant, Rosatom, Atomstroyexport, Jordan-Russia Relations