Arab countries develop programs to use nuclear power for desalination - Al-Jassar

HAMMAMET,Tunisia, Dec 12 (KUNA) -- Some Arab states have started preparing programs to have nuclear stations for water desalination and generating electricity, considering the rarity of water in the region, head of the Executive Council of the Arab Atomic Energy Agency (AAEA) Ahmad Khalid Al-Jassar has said.
Al-Jassar, also Undersecretary of the Kuwaiti Ministry of Electricity and Water, made the statement on the fringes of AAEA 54th session that kicked off in Hammemt, southeast of Tunisia, late on Thursday for three days.
He underscored the dire need to enhance Arab capabilities for the peaceful use of nuclear power.
Al-Jassar referred to the Arab strategy adopted by the Doha Arab Summit 2009 on the peaceful use of nuclear energy. It comprises a ten-year program for improving peaceful applications of nuclear energy throughout the region.
In the 54th session, the Executive Council will look into the technical issues related to the AAEA activities in 2014, as well as the 2015 programs, Al-Jassar said.
He noted that the UAE has recently embarked on building a second nuclear reactor, after it began constructing a first one almost two years before. He also pointed to a Saudi ambitious program for setting up nuclear stations for power and deslination purposes.
In addition, there is an integrated program for a nuclear plant in the Sudan he said. Tunisia is also studying the potential of having one for the same civilian purposes. (end) aly.ams.msa