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| Algeria Shows Keen Interest in South Africa’s Pebble Bed Technology |
8 February 2010 - Back |
| Author/Source: PBMR Corporate Communications |
PBMR |
- A high-level delegation under the leadership of Dr M Derdour, Chairman of the Algerian Atomic Energy Commission (Comena), is currently in South Africa to actively pursue involvement in the field of nuclear, including showing a keen interest in the country’s pebble bed modular reactor (PBMR) technology.
Algeria is, amongst others, exploring the possibility of building nuclear reactors the size of PBMR near inland villages to provide electricity and desalination. Other areas of possible strategic partnerships are in the field of capacity building and skills development, training, experimental facilities using a PBMR reactor, nuclear safety and the supply of purified helium for PBMR.
Nuclear activity in Algeria is concentrated around Comena. This ranges from regulation to research and promotion of nuclear.
Dr Derdour says Algeria is seriously pursuing nuclear technology as a means to diversify its energy sources and as a vehicle to reduce its dependency on a hydrocarbons economy. “We plan to build 1000 MWe of nuclear capacity by 2022 and 2400 MWe by 2027. Since this power is needed for both electricity generation and desalination, the pebble bed technology seems to be an extremely attractive option.”
He points out that Algeria, like South Africa, has signed the Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty. “Algeria has atomic energy agreements with Argentina, China, France and the United States. We also have two research reactors, which were built by Argentina and China respectively.”
According to Jaco Kriek, CEO of Pebble Bed Modular Reactor (Pty) Ltd, Algeria’s interest in the PBMR technology opens a real opportunity for two African countries to cooperate on nuclear. “South Africa has a long relationship with Algeria, including the signing in 2003 of a Memorandum of Understanding on cooperation in the field of nuclear and radiation sciences between Comena and South Africa’s Department of Science and Technology.
“We believe the PBMR technology is ideal for a country such as Algeria with its need for clean water. We would therefore very much welcome Comena’s involvement in the PBMR Company.”
About Algeria
Algeria, the second largest country in Africa, is composed mostly of high plateaus and desert lands. It has about 35, 8 million people concentrated mainly around sparsely distributed cities (coast line), towns, and villages. This poses a great challenge to infrastructural development, especially around electricity and clean water.
Besides agricultural products, its industry is concentrated around petroleum, natural gas, light industries, mining, electrical, petrochemical, food processing, pharmaceuticals, cement and seawater desalination. The hydrocarbons remain the most important sector in the Algerian economy accounting for over 98% of its export earnings and 30% of its GDP. The Algerian economy is in the process of opening up. The transformation is, however, incomplete and is pursued very carefully not to disturb the current stability. Against that backdrop of challenges, nuclear is seen as a vehicle for achieving an economic growth and diversification from hydrocarbons dependency. |
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