August 27, 2007 (LPAC)--In an address before Jordan's Supreme Committee for Nuclear Energy yesterday, King Abdullah called for speeding up Jordan's plans for developing nuclear energy for electricity and desalination of sea water. "This issue is one of the most important challenges Jordan faces requiring radical solutions in the long term," Abdullah is quoted by AP and Ynet.

Minister for Scientific Research Khaled Toukan told the committee that "nuclear energy would constitute 30% of the total amount of energy produced in Jordan by 2030. This would shift Jordan from being an energy-importing country to an energy-producing country in 2030, by providing power at reduced costs in the industry and service sectors to support economic growth."