Egypt: Nuclear alternative needed for development
Egypt, Economics, 11/13/2006

Egypt's Higher Council for Energy policies met yesterday under Prime Minister Ahmed Nazif to discuss a report presented by Minister of Electricity Hassan Younis on the outcome of the activities of the ministerial group made up to study the economic, technical and development prospects of using the nuclear energy as a necessary energy alternative.

Cabinet spokesman Magdy Rady said the report showed that costs of setting up nuclear stations will not be an obstacle if compared to costs of similar stations that are operated by conventional energy such as petroleum or gas.

Rady added that the Prime Minister stressed that there is an economic feasibility to use nuclear energy to produce electricity and boost development process in all fields.

Moreover,the government is about to finish a study on Egypt's resumption of a programme for the peaceful use of nuclear energy, International Cooperation Minister Fayza Abul-Naga said Sunday.

The government will submit the plan to the Higher Council for Energy by the end of the month, added the minister.

In her statement before a meeting of the People's Assembly Energy and Industry Committee, under chairman Mohamed Abul Einein, Abul-Naga said that the strategy stresses Egypt's right to the peaceful use of nuclear energy in accordance with the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) which contains a provision granting the such right to all parties to the treaty.

Egypt's resumption of its nuclear programme is a basic right granted by international treaties, she said, adding that Egypt's adoption of such drive is based on a thorough and future study of the non-renewable sour'ces of energy, ie, petroleum and natural gas.

In addition to this the US representative to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Greek Sheet told Al-Ahram's reporter in Doha, Qatar that his country is ready to contribute to providing technical and technological requirements of the proposed Egyptian peaceful nuclear program in cooperation with the IAEA.

He added Washington had stressed support for the Egyptian orientation in this regard within the context of President George Bush's strategy to support any country willing to obtain the peaceful nuclear power technology.

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