The Syndicate's Energy Committee of the Engineers Association organized a scientific visit to the Jordan Research and Training Reactor
The committee's delegation, headed by committee chairman Dr. Muhammad Tariq Al-Barakat, was received by the reactor's managers, who provided an explanation of the reactor's operation, its uses for peaceful purposes, its applications, and its workflow. They also discussed the production of radioactive materials, and the training and qualification of numerous Jordanian engineers and technicians to operate and manage the reactor within the approved and licensed operational limits. They also discussed the production and weekly distribution of radioactive iodine isotopes to the Kingdom's hospitals, medical centers, and clinics specializing in nuclear medicine, cancer treatment, and diagnosis, in accordance with pharmaceutical requirements and specifications approved by the Food and Drug Administration and the World Health Organization, while adhering strictly to the Energy and Minerals Regulatory Commission's regulations and instructions regarding safe and sound handling of radioactive materials. The committee delegation toured the nuclear reactor's facilities and installations and listened to detailed explanations from those in charge of these departments, which are managed by Jordanian scientific experts. They noted the reactor's success in obtaining ISO-9001 accreditation for the production of the iridium isotope, which is used in destructive testing of pipe and equipment welding, in addition to operating neutron activation analysis systems and verifying the accuracy of their results against standard models from the International Atomic Energy Agency.
Dr. Barakat stated that the Jordanian nuclear reactor is a towering scientific edifice of Jordanian achievement at the national and global levels, thanks to the creative Jordanian talent and expertise working there with determination and resolve to achieve advanced levels of nuclear achievement for peaceful purposes, keeping pace with all scientific developments worldwide.
He added that we in the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan are proud of this great national achievement, which represents an advanced stage in the Kingdom's nuclear project. Dr. Barakat indicated that nuclear energy will constitute a fundamental pillar of the Kingdom's energy security strategy, which is a key focus of the work plan of the Jordan Engineers Association's Energy Committee and the Jordan Engineers Association. He emphasized his belief that small nuclear power plants will be an important solution for the Kingdom's energy future.
He thanked the Chairman of the Jordan Atomic Energy Commission, Dr. Khaled Toukan, for his distinguished scientific and technical management of the nuclear energy project, his positioning of Jordan on the nuclear energy map, and his unlimited support for the development of distinguished Jordanian cadres in this field. He noted that many Jordanian talents have become leaders in the field of nuclear energy in many Arab and international countries. He also commended all the technical and administrative staff at the reactor, commending their advanced scientific level and extensive knowledge in this field.
The reactor management expressed its readiness to receive further scientific visits from various branches of the Jordan Engineers Association to learn about the Jordanian experience and the training opportunities available in various engineering disciplines. In addition to the committee members, the delegation included a number of new engineers and master's students in the field of energy, who expressed their admiration for the reactor and its advanced level, which produces electrical energy and isotopes used in medicine and industry, and is not just a simple laboratory or a model of an integrated reactor.