Egypt will not start from scratch in nuclear area
Egypt, Politics, 10/6/2006

In an interview with the Egyptian magazine al-Musawir, to be published today, Egypt's Electricity Minister Hassan Younis said talks will be held soon at the People's Assembly and the Shura Council on the nuclear alternative in order to begin implementing the peaceful nuclear program.

He noted that establishing a nuclear station would need eight to nine years and cost about US $ 2 billion for 1000MW.

About the number of nuclear stations to be set up, Younis said Cairo would establish nuclear stations according to the development requirements.

Asked if Egypt would export all its needs of Uranium, he said Egypt is Uranium rich. He noted that Egypt had been using the nuclear energy in the medical uses for a long time and it would now use it in generating electricity.

Younis added that Egypt had programs to further develop wind energy, noting that there were wind farms in Zafrana. The minister went on to say that Egypt was establishing its first solar power station.

On the other hand, Electricity Minister Hassan Younis held a meeting Thursday with leaderships of the Egyptian Nuclear Safety Authority (NSA) to discuss prospects of the national watchdog playing its part in a project for establishing nuclear stations.

Younis said the NSA played a key role in licensing and operating nuclear research reactors at the Egyptian Atomic Energy Authority (AEA) in line with safety rules of the International Atomic Energy Agency.

The AEA is the main source of expertise and studies upon which the Egyptian peaceful nuclear program will be based, he said.

The NSA will work on developing its capabilities and reviewing its structure via comparison with similar bodies in developed countries having nuclear programs, he said.

He noted that Egypt had cadres capable of establishing nuclear stations, adding that setting up a nuclear station would take eight to nine years.

He added that initial studies on the nuclear alternative as a source of energy in Egypt have been finalized, noting that a feasibility study prepared for the purpose in 1986 would be updated.

Previous Stories:
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  Egyptian FM stresses Iran's nuclear right   (8/14/2006)
  All countries have rights to access to nuclear energy :Egypt   (7/10/2006)

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