Jordan Atomic Energy Commission (JAEC) has entered into a $12 million agreement with Belgium-based Tractebel Engineering as part of the Kingdom's plan to build its first nuclear plant and reduce reliance on oil imports.

Under the deal, Tractebel will first carry out a two-year survey to determine whether the planned location, about 25 kilometers south of the Red Sea port of Aqaba, is suitable for 'the environment'.

JAEC plans to complete the first 1,000-megawatt reactor in five to six years and may construct a second depending on costs.