International conference debates use of nuclear energy in desalination

Experts from 35 countries are debating, part of an international conference that got under way in Marrakesh, Morocco, on Wednesday, the use of nuclear energy for desalination purposes.

The three-day conference, co-sponsored by the International Atomic Energy Agency and the World Council on Water, is hearing reports on research projects related to the use of environment-friendly nuclear energy in ensuring enough water resources.

Water shortage has become a real problem facing all the countries of the world, a situation that requires urgent action at planetary level to curb the problem, Moroccan secretary of state to scientific research, Omar Fassi Fihri said at the opening of the conference.

The unfair distribution of water resources is a political, economic, technological and social challenge, he said, calling states, NGOs and citizens to work for securing enough water resources to the growing world population.

The official surveyed Morocco's efforts to ensure a sound management of its water resources through dam construction.

Water desalination through nuclear energy is a realistic option, participants said, adding more than 1.2 billion people have no access to drinking water in the world and two million others, mostly children, die annually of diseases linked to polluted water and lack of hygiene.