Dr. Mohamed Al-Qilly, Chairman of the Atomic Energy Authority, said the Center for Nuclear Safety is currently testing all the systems of the old Anshas research reactor to make sure that its devices are still efficient. This will pave the way for the reactor being reactivated after several months of inactivity. Al-Qilly said that the biggest problem being faced by the Authority is the lack of staff in all technical specializations and pointed out that the financial situation must improve to stop skilful people from fleeing to other countries. He also revealed that an agreement has been reached with the department of nuclear engineering of Alexandria University to train graduates, and to consider them staff for the Egyptian nuclear program. On the other hand, Dr. Al-Qilly accused Israel of standing behind the issue of the uranium particles that experts of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) claimed to have found in Anshas without proving their allegations. He said that the entire issue was the result of confusion, and that Israel has raised it to draw attention away from its military program after many inside the IAEA called for its nuclear program to be inspected, and for Israel itself to be forced to sign the Non-Proliferation Treaty.
