Does a 15km plot of North Coast desert hold the key to Egypt's nuclear future? Fatemah Farag reports In 1981, Presidential Decree no.309 announced the construction of a nuclear energy plant in Al- Dabaa on the North Coast. LE150 million was sunk into qualification testing between 1978 and 1984, which proved that the site -- located approximately 100km west of Alexandria -- was optimal. According to the project manager, an additional LE350 million has since been spent on environmental labs, training simulation, administrative matters, and metallurgical, sedimentation and other technical surveys. But no nuclear energy plant has materialised. Instead, early this month, officials from Al- Dabaa's City Council visited the site, accompanied by foreign businessmen. The buzz is that the government is planning to sell the plot to make way for tourism development. Last month, a protocol was signed with a major multinational tourism company to develop a massive area on the North Coast into a mega tourism project involving several resorts. It is yet another stage in the uncertain path towards the nuclear energy option -- a path which began in 1955 when the Atomic Energy Council was established and headed by President Gamal Abdel-Nasser himself. This led to the establishment of the Atomic Energy Organisation in 1957, and the subsequent construction of two nuclear reactors at Anshass: the first a two-megawatt facility built by the Russians in 1961; and the second a 22-megawatt facility built by the Danes in 1978. However, attempts to take nuclear energy into the realm of public use have thus far failed to materialise. In 1964, a North Coast location -- Sidi Kreir -- was chosen for a 150-megawatt plant. Westinghouse won the international bid for the project, but the June 1967 defeat before Israel put the plan on hold. The plan for a nuclear power plant was renewed after the October 1973 war, and in 1976 then Minister of Electricity Ahmed Sultan announced to parliament that a 600-megawatt plant would be constructed, and become operational by 1981. Westinghouse again won the bid, but before the signing of the contract in 1978, the US asked for the right to inspect the plant, a request denied by President Anwar El-Sadat. When pressure was later brought to bear, Egypt signed the non-proliferation treaty in 1981, and the Sidi Kreir file was conveniently shelved. Finally, in 1983, a bid for the construction of a 1000-megawatt plant in Al-Dabaa was proffered. Egyptian nuclear scientists have claimed that pressure was again applied by the Americans to halt the project, and that before the final stage of the bid process took place, the 1986 Chernobyl nuclear disaster made it -- once again -- convenient to shelve the nuclear energy idea. According to Mustafa Kamal Sabry, former minister of electricity and energy (1968-1970) and current head of the Energy Committee at the National Specialised Councils, Egypt realised early on the importance of turning to nuclear energy. "However, partially because of international pressures, and partially as a result of behind-the-scenes local politics, we have been incapable of realising this goal." It is understood by all those concerned that a political decision has always been the necessary prerequisite for moving forward with the nuclear energy option. And while the proponents of nuclear energy are willing to wait for that to occur, they are unwilling to concede the Al-Dabaa site. "The site is optimal in terms of its location for such a project," explained Mounir Megahid, director of the Al-Dabaa Project. "There is no other site in Egypt that can replace this one. If we give up on this site, we give up on the nuclear energy option, not only for ourselves, but for future generations." Sabry concurred that "if this site [Al-Dabaa] is lost, it will make the construction of a nuclear energy plant in Egypt virtually impossible. This kind of facility requires close proximity to the sea, as well as very specific land, wind and other requirements. With the extensive construction that has taken over our coastline, it would be very difficult to find another suitable location." In an interview with London-based daily Asharq Al-Awsat this week, Prime Minister Ahmed Nazif said it was "not within the state's plan to build it [Al-Dabaa] within the current phase". He also said that those who claim that hundreds of millions had been spent on the project must review their figures. He did not, however, provide any specific figures himself. Those who argue for the development of a nuclear energy option explain that fossil fuel production is on the downslide, natural gas is by definition a finite resource, water energy in Egypt has already been used to the maximum, and other renewable energy sources are very costly. "The fact that our other energy sources are either too expensive or not everlasting means that the nuclear energy option is inevitable for Egypt," Sabry said. "Fossil fuels are best used in petrochemical industries, where they are irreplaceable," argued Megahid. He said uranium, on the other hand, had no other uses, and was thus "more efficient to use in the generation of energy and electricity". It is estimated that the power that would be generated by a nuclear plant at Al-Dabaa could be around 20 per cent cheaper than conventionally produced electricity, if current subsidies on electricity production were removed. And while some might make light of Egypt's ability to manage a safe and efficient nuclear plant, Megahid said, "we have experience in both running nuclear facilities [Anshass], and in running large electrical power plants. When we put our minds to it, we can manage large projects to the highest international standards. The Suez Canal, the High Dam and others are examples. To remain backward does not really have to be our fate." A campaign to bring Al-Dabaa and the nuclear energy debate into the public light was launched immediately following the visit made by the unknown businessmen earlier this month. But the detailed e-mail bulletins, public debates at various syndicates, and reports in the opposition press have all gone unanswered, with the exception of the Nazif interview in Asharq Al-Awsat. The prime minister said, "we adopt a policy of total transparency, and we will announce anything... they said we are going to turn the site into a tourist area; we are still studying our options." But according to one activist who preferred anonymity, "it's like fighting shadows. No official decision is announced, yet the wheels are put in motion to remove one project for another, one policy option for another. All without consulting those involved. All concerning resources and policy issues that have dire consequences for generations to come."
