Security concerns threaten nuclear power development
Security is emerging as the key issue for a feasibility study into developing the country's first nuclear power plants.The plan is still awaiting cabinet approval. However, the US' Powered Corporation, which will build the plants if it goes ahead, is likely to consider relatively small reactors, as used by Atomic Energy of Canada.'Security is a huge issue and we will address this in the feasibility study,' says James Jeffrey, chief executive officer for North & South America & Asia at Powered Corporation. We will work with the government on this and if it cannot be secured we will not do it. The study will make the case for smaller reactors, which may be far more applicable in the early stages of the project.'Energy & Electricity Minister Mustafa Bahran announced in mid-September that five nuclear reactors producing up to 5,000 MW in total would be built over 10 years, at a cost of $15,000 million.He said a feasibility study would be launched in early 2008, funded by the US firm and Sanaa.However, the announcement was greeted with scepticism among analysts because of the lack of government funds and the security situation in the country (MEED 28:9:07).'We believe there are a lot of private funds in the region interested in investing in power and water projects,' says Jeffrey. 'We see an opportunity so long as there are partners to assist.'
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