Nuclear energy conference to start in Amman

The fourth Nuclear Energy Conference will start in Amman next Tuesday to discuss various nuclear energy-related issues, Jordan Nuclear Regulatory Commission (JNRC) Director General Jamal Sharaf said here on Friday. The meeting will shed light on the new circumstances posed by the Fukushima incident in Japan and the role of nuclear regulatory entities in maintaining nuclear safety and security. Sharaf noted that the Fukushima incident further illustrated the important role of nuclear regulatory commissions as well as the significance of their independence as monitoring bodies, noting that the commission is responsible for monitoring border areas to detect radiation and radioactive materials using portable radioactive detection devices. The three-day conference will also serve as a platform for Jordan to learn from other countries'' experience in producing nuclear power. Around 45 international experts representing 19 countries will take part in the conference, which will be held in cooperation with Balqa Applied University. The participants will discuss 40 papers on nuclear energy with a special focus on safety and security issues. Companies, students and local community members interested in the subject matter will also take part in the event.