In a secret visit to the Egyptian Nuclear Power Plants Authority (NPPA), US Ambassador in Cairo Margaret Scobey met yesterday with NPPA officials for an hour. At the end of the visit, she met with Egyptian Minister of Electricity and Energy Hassan Younis for 20 minutes. Head of NPPA Yassin Ibrahim called for a US participation in financing the project, and Scobey said that request could be negotiated with the US banking institutions, particularly the Egyptian American Bank. The two sides agreed to send the project's studies to the US embassy, which will send them to US experts in Washington, Al-Masry Al-Youm has learnt.
The Egyptian officials briefed the US Ambassador on steps taken by Egypt to establish its peaceful program, an official source told Al-Masry Al-Youm. Scobey told Ibrahim that US experts are ready to help in the establishment of the nuclear and radioactive control system, which is being developed by Egypt. The source pointed out that the US ambassador expressed an interest in the Egyptian nuclear program after Egypt confirmed that the project is peaceful, transparent and safe.
Some US officials, topped by Undersecretary of State for Arms Control and International Security Robert Joseph, had met with the Egyptian Minister of Electricity last February and offered Egypt to enter into the US initiative for partnership.
The US side had voiced America's willingness to take over the file of the nuclear fuel cycle in Egyptian nuclear reactors, including the process of enrichment as well as management and disposal of spent fuel.
