August 22, 2008

Egypt to launch tender for first nuclear reactor in February

MENA news agency reported that Egypt would launch a tender for offers in February 2008 to build its first nuclear reactor.

MENA cited Egyptian officials as saying that "The nuclear energy agency will launch an international tender for offers to build Egypt's first nuclear reactor worth USD 1.5 to USD 1.8 billion. The type of reactor and its constructor will be chosen according to international safety standards and reputation as well as costs. The offer is open to all countries."

In October 2007, Mr Hosni Mubarak President of Egypt announced the beginning of a national plan for setting up nuclear plants for peaceful uses. On January 10th 2008, Egypt said that the first nuclear reactor will be built at Dabaa on the Mediterranean coast, west of the port of Alexandria.

France has offered to share its nuclear expertise with Egypt, which initiated a nuclear energy program in the 1970s but abandoned it in 1986 after the Chernobyl disaster in the Ukraine.