Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak
Photo: Reuters
Egypt begins construction on nuclear power plant
Less than two months after first announcing intentions for ‘peaceful nuclear plan’, Egypt takes first steps in constructing nuclear power plant
Egypt’s International Cooperation Minister Faiza Aboul Naga, said Monday that her country had begun taking steps in establishing the first nuclear power plant in Egypt.
“The government completed setting its strategy for executing the project at the end of last month in accordance with international agreements to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons,” she declared.
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The London based newspaper al-Hayat reported Monday morning that in her appearance before a committee of the Egyptian parliament Sunday, Aboul Naga said that Egypt needed eight power plants in order to take care of the lack in electricity and energy in the coming years, and that four plants would be built first.
The power plants would be established following an international declaration. In this context, the minister added, “Egypt signed agreements with a number of countries regarding the peaceful use of nuclear energy, but it has been over 25 years since then, and the agreements need updating, although they are still valid.”
Aboul Naga even tried to calm the committee members who were preparing a comprehensive report on the future of nuclear energy and said that Egypt had much experience in the field and that it was capable of protecting its citizens from danger.
She also said that the future of nuclear energy is assured, considering that oil and natural gas were expected to run out in about 17 and 34 years respectively, which obligates a reassessment in the use of alternative energy.
The minister added that Egypt was close to signing an agreement with Japan regarding collaboration in the nano-technology field. In the meantime, the Egyptian nuclear plan got another push from the home front.
According to London based news paper al-Sharq al-Awsat, over 400 academics called on the Egyptian government Sunday to accelerate its steps in the matter.
