Al-Masry Al-Youm has learnt that the Ministry of Electricity is preparing to sign the consulting services contract for the Egyptian nuclear project on March 1 after officially ending the negotiations on the scope of the technical works with US Bechtel Corporation. Official sources said the Nuclear Power Plants Authority and the US corporation were holding lengthy sessions to review the contract clauses. These discussions are likely to be over next week, so that the final contract can definitively be approved, the sources affirmed. The negotiations revolve on the payment clauses, the activities timetable, the penalties and coordination with the competent authorities. The sources said the two parties will at first sign the contract by initials. The board of directors of the Authority, chaired by the electricity and energy minister, has to approve the contract before it is officially signed during a great celebration at the presence of Minister Hassan Younes. According to the contract, studies will be carried out on the places, both along the Red Sea and the Mediterranean, which could host nuclear plants. Then, a report on these studies and spots is due to be submitted to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), which will officially decide the adequate place. Among the possible locations is Dabaa, on the northern coast.
