Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd.
(7011.TO) believes Jordan still plans to build its first nuclear power plant in
the near future, despite opposition in parliament based on fears of a major
accident like the one in Fukushima last year, a company executive said Monday.
"We haven't been informed of anything like suspension or an exit"
from the project, Shigero Masamori, Mitsubishi Heavy's Chief Director of
Nuclear Energy Business, told reporters.
Jordan has announced plans to start nuclear power generation by 2019 and
produce 30% of its total energy mix from nuclear power by the end of 2030. In
April, the kingdom shortlisted two candidates to build a 1 gigawatt nuclear
plant--a joint venture between Mitsubishi Heavy and France's Areva (AREVA.FR),
and Russia's Atomstroyexport.
Last week, however, Jordan's lower house voted for a recommendation by a
parliamentary committee to suspend its nuclear program in light of fears raised
by the Fukushima Daiichi accident that began in March 2011.