[NukeNet] At Least 6 Arab Countries Are Developing Nuclear Power Domestically

[Bill Smirnow]

http://www.nytimes.com/reuters/world/international-nuclear-arabs.html?_r=1&oref=slogin
   Six Arab Countries Look to Nuclear Power:
Report
  a..                E-Mail
  b.. Print
  c.. Save



By REUTERS
Published: November 4, 2006
Filed at 10:59 a.m. ET

Skip to next paragraph
DUBAI (Reuters) - At least six Arab countries are
developing domestic nuclear power programs to
diversify energy sources, a Middle East economic
magazine reported on Saturday.

Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Morocco and Algeria have
shown interest in developing nuclear power
primarily for water desalination, the Middle East
Economic Digest (MEED) quoted Tomihiro Taniguchi,
deputy director-general of the Vienna-based
International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), as
saying.

``We held preliminary discussions with these
governments. We will offer them help under our
technical advisory program to conduct a study for
the power plants,'' he was quoted as saying,
adding that the interest the four nations had
shown was ``at a tertiary stage.''

The United Arab Emirates and Tunisia have also
shown interest in nuclear power, but their plans
are at an infant stage, the magazine said.

Nobody at the IAEA was immediately available to
comment. A diplomat close to the IAEA said the
plans of Arab countries reflected ``renewed
interest in nuclear power.''

Analysts say that besides the need for alternative
energy sources, many Arab countries are concerned
about Iran's nuclear ambitions.

Western powers are attempting to forge a U.N.
resolution to force Iran to suspend its nuclear
program.

Iran says it has a right to develop nuclear fuel,
which it says it wants for peaceful goals, but
which the West fears will be used to make atomic
bombs.

Egypt's nuclear program is the Arab world's most
advanced. Russia is looking to take part in a
tender to construct nuclear power stations in the
country, a Russian official said this week.

Egypt has ordered studies into building atomic
power stations after President Hosni Mubarak in
September called for a national dialogue on the
issue.

MEED said Algeria's plans were the next most
advanced after Egypt.