Minister of National Infrastructures Benjamin Ben-Eliezer plans to bring before the cabinet a plan to build a nuclear power station in the Negev. At an Israel Association of Electrical and Electronics Engineers on Friday, he said Prime Minister Ehud Olmert was aware of the subject. “There’s a possibility of building a nuclear power station in the Negev. We’re examining the matter. We’re now examining the significance, and the cabinet will have to provide answers on the matter,” he said.
The plan to build a nuclear power station in the Negev has been around for a while; the government considered it in the 1970s. The plan was rejected at the time because of international pressure on Israel, but it has now been revived because of the country’s electricity shortage.
The nuclear power station would produce 1,200 megawatts, or 8-10% of Israel’s future electricity needs. The main advantage of a nuclear power station is its low cost, but there are also major environmental concerns.
Energy market sources said in response to Ben-Eliezer’s remarks that a nuclear power station would not solve Israel’s severe power problems. “A nuclear power station would take at least eight years to build. Instead of discussing future plans, the government should promote current projects for building power stations in order to solve the electricity shortfall in 2009-10.”
Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes.co.il - on August 5, 2007
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