[NYTr] US ready to help build nuclear reactors in Egypt

[All the News That Doesn't Fit]

AP via MSNBC - Oct 29, 2007
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21527291/

Egypt to build several nuclear energy plants

U.S. ready to help build peaceful program, envoy says

The Associated Press

CAIRO, Egypt - Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak on Monday announced
plans to build several nuclear power plants, joining several Arab
countries in the Middle East that recently have broadcast their own
atomic energy ambitions.

Mubarak said in a speech broadcast live on national television that the
decision to build these nuclear power stations was to diversify Egypt's
energy resources and preserve the country's oil and gas reserves for
coming generations.

"I announce before you Egypt's position to prepare the program for
building several nuclear power stations. We believe that energy
security is a major part of building the future for this country and an
integral part of Egypt's national security system," Mubarak said at a
ceremony inaugurating the second phase of construction of an electrical
power plant north of Cairo.

Mubarak said he would re-establish the Supreme Council for the Peaceful
Purposes of Nuclear Power, which would be in charge of the nuclear
program. He also said Egypt would seek the help of its "international
partners" and the U.N. nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic
Energy Agency, in building the nuclear power plants.

Last year, Mubarak's son, Gamal, called for Egypt to revive plans for a
nuclear program that was publicly shelved in the aftermath of the 1986
accident at the Soviet nuclear plant in Chernobyl.

U.S. may help

A committee was formed to study the program's possibilities, and the
U.S ambassador said Washington would be willing to help its Mideast
ally develop a peaceful program.

At the time, Hassan Yunis, the minister of electricity and energy, said
Egypt could have an operational nuclear power plant within 10 years.

Egypt has conducted nuclear experiments on a very small scale for the
past four decades, but they have not included the key process of
uranium enrichment, according to the IAEA.

Earlier this year, former U.N. chief weapons inspector Hans Blix said
he supported Egypt's ambitions but said it would be at least a decade
before Cairo could launch a nuclear program and urged Egypt to sign
additional protocols allowing for greater inspection oversight.

Iran's progress in building its nuclear program had sparked a rush
among other Middle East countries to look at programs of their own to
diversify and expand their energy resources.

Yemen's government in September signed an agreement with Houston-based
Powered Corporation to build nuclear power plants over the next 10
years to generate electricity. Jordan, several Gulf Arab countries and
Turkey have also announced that they were interested in developing
peaceful nuclear programs.

But the rush has also raised the possibility of a dangerous
proliferation of nuclear technology in the volatile region. The United
States accuses Iran of secretly trying to develop nuclear weapons. Iran
denies the claims and says its program is for peaceful purposes
including developing electricity.

Copyright 2007 The Associated Press.