EGYPT: Government looks to nuclear energy to face increasing power needs

In an attempt to meet the country's increasing energy consumption rates, Egypt's Ministry of Electricity and Energy announced that it will open bids for its first nuclear power plant this year.

"Egypt's nuclear program is progressing steadily and we expect to start the tender before the end of the year," Minister of Electricity and Energy, Hassan Younes, told state-owned newspaper Al Ahram.

The minister added that Dabaa, on the Egyptian northern coast, has been recommended as a site for the nuclear reactor by an international consulting firm, which relied on studies reviewed by the National Centre for Nuclear Safety and Control. NCNSC will issue its final and official approval in two months.

The decision to develop Egypt's power and energy capabilities comes as the country is suffering from another hot summer that has the government struggling to meet increased electrical demand. Large parts of Egypt's cities and towns – including Cairo – still have to bear constant and sometimes daily power outages during June, July and August.

The government responded by dimming street lights on main roads by 50%, as well tripling electricity prices during peak hours and imposing laws forcing citizens to reduce their daily consumption. Similar to gas and oil, electricity is partially subsidized by the Egyptian government.

In addition to generating nuclear power, the Egyptian government aims to build wind farms to increase energy production. Wind energy is expected to account for 12% of the power produced by 2010.

Egypt previously counted on hydroelectricity generated from the High Dam, which provided 60% of the country's power. However, Younis believes that generating hydro power will gradually vanish due to dwindling water resources. Today, only 8% of Egypt's power is currently generated by hydroelectricity.

After abandoning its nuclear ambitions following the Chernobyl disaster in Ukraine, USSR in 1986, the Egyptian nuclear power project was revived in 2007 by President Hosni Mubarak. Officials are hoping that the new project, which includes building four nuclear power plants, will add a capacity of up to 4,000 megawatts by 2025.

--Amro Hassan in Cairo

Photo: Electrical power generators in Egypt. Credit: Associated Press

Comments

[Joe]

Having a nuclear industry need a lot of capital and expertise, Egypt at the moment lack investment capital and political clout to be allowed to have all aspect of nuclear generating cycle including enrichment parts, and therefore becomes more deeply vulnerable to political blackmail by providers of this technology to her, as of today Egypt is dependent on foreign aids let along being dependent on nuclear fuel in future on top of it, one example of blackmail for Egyptians to observe is cutoff of aids to Lebanon army for having a simple border skirmish with one of a blackmailer gang, perhaps former IAEA chief ElBaradei as a elected president can built a independent nuclear industry for Egypt by virtue of being expert in legal rights of Egyptians under IAEA!

[Mohamed Hosny]

yes we have a shortage in electricity due to the summer's temprature wich consume about 3000 MW at 40 degrees for 3 hours only( from 20 to 23)every day and i think that we will face this problem till the consumers begin to relaize that we have a serious situation and start to save the power , for the comment no 1 iam agree with you and i think that"The Quattara" is te solution

[Dean Blake]

They do'nt need nuclear power, its not in their best interest, its a money making scheme for GE and Toshiba. The Quattara Depression hydroelectic project is better suited to Egypt's needs. The proposal was evaluated 15 years ago, but needs to be evaluated in light of two additional benefits; global warming and Egyptian food shortages. Mediteranian water flow in the Depression will absorbe many hundreds of cubic miles of sea water to absorbe sea level rise elsewhere. The basin is much bigger than the Black Sea. It wil result in a net inflow of Atlantic water into the Mediteranean Sea diluting its increasing salinity.
This new 'sea' will create a captive area for the raising of fish and new cities will arise on its shores to provide Egyptians with a new life using the electricity. Its much cheaper to build, safer and more reliable than nuclear. Evaporative water will probably result in rain on the Sinai. The two proposed tunnels go thru soft sandstone and limestone. The length is managable. It will have an upper and lower basin the manage release energy time. It can be done quickly using local labor thus aiding Egypt's economy. Its 'green' energy.