Amman — Jordan’s Nuclear Regulatory Commission has given the go-ahead for a first nuclear research reactor to meet its energy needs.

The five-megawatt reactor will be built at the Jordan University for Sciences and Technology near the northern city of Irbid, commission chief Majad Hawwari said.

“The approval of the project came after two years of studies and examination,” Hawwari said in a statement.

The Korean Atomic Energy Research Institute and Daewoo Engineering and Construction Co. will construct the reactor, which is scheduled to become operational in 2016, he added.

Jordanian officials have said the reactor will cost $130 million and that South Korea has loaned $70 million.

Amman is currently weighing rival bids to build the reactor by Russia’s Atomstroyexport and a consortium led by French nuclear giant Areva and Japan’s Mitsubishi.

Jordan imports 98 percent of its power needs and says it wants to develop nuclear technology to meet its growing energy requirements.