Egypt, Russia sign agreement on peaceful use of Atomic Energy
Egypt-Russia, Economics, 4/30/2001

Egypt and Russia have agreed to develop and expand economic, scientific and technical cooperation in the peaceful use of atomic energy according to Egypt's national nuclear needs and priorities.

Minister of Electricity and Energy Ali Al-Saeedi and the Russian Minister of nuclear energy signed a memorandum of understanding in this respect.

The agreement was signed Friday night during President Hosni Mubarak's three-day visit to Russia.

It said the two sides committed themselves, on the basis of their partnership, and with the aim to deepen the joint understanding and cooperation in the sphere of the peaceful use of nuclear energy, to save energy for sustainable human development and to improve the environment.

Egypt, the agreement said, is keen on promoting its energy based on improving conditions to provide its population with clean water.

It is on the basis of the principles of equality, mutual benefit and long-term cooperation that the two sides agreed to develop and expand economic, scientific and technical cooperation in the peaceful use of atomic energy in line with Egypt's nuclear needs and priorities, it added.

Cooperation is to involve, among other spheres, basic and applied research in the use of atomic energy, nuclear safety and environment protection, laser technology, information and experts exchange, training, research, the set up of projects and the transfer of nuclear and non-nuclear compounds.

Saeedi, who held talks with the Russian Minister of Nuclear Energy, said Egypt and Russia have agreed on a large-scale programme in the nuclear domain to attain the best results for the peaceful use of nuclear energy.

They also agreed that Russia would assist in the operation of the electronic accelerator Egypt purchased from Russia with the help of the international atomic energy agency, he told MENA.

"This accelerator produces radioactive isotopes to help in the treatment of brain and heart diseases and other sensitive parts in the body," he said.

Egypt has no problem with providing energy to any development program, and its energy needs to increase each year by 600 to 800 megawatts, he added.

"Egypt started its nuclear programme with India in the mid 1950s, and with also Brazil and Argentina," he said.

It has many experts in this sphere, and the number of Egyptians working at the IAEA surpasses that of Indians, Chinese or Iranians, he added.

Egypt has taken the strategic decision to make peaceful use of nuclear energy and there is no such thing railed the nuclear project because Egypt is for peace, which means it is against wars. "The first Egyptian-Russian nuclear cooperation was in the fifties, and started with large projects, the first being the Anshas nuclear reactor," he said.

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