Jordan is expected to issue a final tender in January to build one or two nuclear power plants in the kingdom to reduce its high oil imports bill, a senior Jordanian energy official said Wednesday.

Three preferred international bidders shortlisted by the Jordanian government earlier this year out of seven will be invited to compete for the one or two plants, each will produce up to 1,000 megawatts, Khaled Toukan, chairman of Jordan Atomic Energy Commission, or JAEC, told Dow Jones Newswires in an exclusive interview.

Toukan said that the winner could be chosen in March next year.

The three shortlisted bidders, which are expected to compete to build the nuclear power facility, are France's Areva (CEI.FR) in partnership with Japan's Mitsubishi Corp. (8058.TO), Russia's Atomstroyexport firm and Atomic Energy of Canada Ltd., he said.

Toukan also said the JAEC would also issue a separate tender to choose an operator for the nuclear power plant. The station would be operated by a private company in which the Jordanian government would have a stake, he said.

The site of the country's first nuclear power plant has been relocated from the Red Sea port of Aqaba to Majdal in Mafraq province central Jordan , he said. But Aqaba would remain an option for building other nuclear power plants, he said.

Belgium 's Tractebel Engergia SA (TBLE3.BR) is carrying out a survey of the new proposed location to see if it is suitable, he said, adding that the company is expected to submit its final report in three months.

Jordan is poor in terms of both energy and water resources. It currently imports some 96% of its energy requirements. Plans foresee the kingdom generating more than 30% of its total energy using nuclear power by the end of 2030 or 2040.

In March this year, a South Korean consortium including the state-run Korean Atomic Energy Institute and Daewoo Engineering and Construction Co. Ltd. (047040.SE) clinched a $130-million deal with the Jordanian government to build a nuclear reactor for research and training at Jordan University of Science and Technology.

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