Energy minister opens nuclear energy forum

Manama, Dec. 1 (BNA): Energy Minister Dr. Abdulhussain Mirza yesterday delivered the keynote speech at the opening of the Third Arab Forum for Nuclear Energy. The three-day event, under the umbrella of the Arab Atomic Energy Agency, is being held under the patronage of the minister, with the support of the Supreme Council for the Environment. Among other things, it will discuss the prospects for the production of electricity using nuclear power and the desalination of water. Dr. Mirza, in his speech, said the use of alternative energy for the generation of electricity and water desalination should be encouraged on a war footing. Among these alternative energies, he said, nuclear energy has proven reliability in terms of safety and security, and does not lead to greenhouse gas emissions. It is also competitive in cost as compared with other energy sources. The minister pointed out to the existence of other nuclear power plants in the Middle East and in the Arabian Gulf. He said Arab countries are developing rapidly and there is a corresponding increase in demand for electricity and water, which has increased between five and seven per cent in the last few years. On the other hand, he said, there is a growing shortage and depletion of natural resources, especially oil and gas reserves. The minister said the desire to ensure energy self-sufficiency and the development of national and Arab strategies for future energy use has inspired Gulf and other Arab countries express an interest in the peaceful use of nuclear energy, particularly for electricity generation and water production. The minister also pointed out that most Arab countries lack the required knowledge, skills and resources, human and financial, needed to benefit from nuclear energy options for electricity generation and desalination of sea water. The region also lacked basic requirements, legislative, financial, administrative and other obligations that should accompany a decision to embark on a nuclear power programme. Dr. Mirza explained that the Forum was an opportunity to talk about the priorities and concerns relating to nuclear power programmes in Arab countries and the necessary requirements to conduct comprehensive studies on the feasibility of nuclear power, as well as to encourage Arab cooperation and common understanding on key issues related to nuclear capability. Nuclear energy, he said, should come with an awareness for the community, which should be told about its safe use and possible threats. The Fukushima disaster in Japan, he said, was a case in point and brought about an increased focus on raising awareness and communication with the public regarding the safety of nuclear power plants as much as the safety of the plants themselves. Dr. Mirza said nations should have the option of nuclear power to establish and develop their infrastructure and core capabilities, which would enable them to build nuclear power plants and to cooperate with each other and to benefit from the experiences of developed countries. He stressed on the role of the Arab Atomic Energy Agency, the technical arm of the Arab League, in the field of peaceful use of atomic energy, in coordination between member countries to achieve the use of safe and peaceful atomic energy and to promote economic and social welfare. The minister praised Bahrain’s membership of the Arab Atomic Energy Agency since September 2009 through the Supreme Council for the Environment, which licences and regulates radioactive materials and issues regulatory decisions on radioactive materials and devices.