Nuclear aspirations

By Samir Sobhi

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Atomic energy is no longer a luxury that we can spare. It is the cleanest and most plentiful type of energy available on this planet. You can get as much energy from processing one kilogramme of uranium as you would get from burning 1,600 tonnes of oil or 2,400 of coal.

Oil and coal, both blamed for global warming, are not going to be phased out as sources of energy. Therefore, we need to explore alternative sources, the most important of which is atomic energy. We'll need more energy, for otherwise we cannot build more roads, sustain growing transportation, and keep our factories going. More energy means more jobs, better standards of life and a secure future. So we have to start developing a nuclear programme for peaceful purposes. There are about 440 centrifuges for enriching uranium worldwide, and we must start acquiring our own.

I am not saying that we should start importing technology and buying turnkey power plants. No, we need to have our own scientific programmes, research institutes and experts. For this to happen, we must start by reviewing our education programme. We must educate the young now to have the skills we need tomorrow. We need to develop the human capacities to sustain a credible nuclear programme.

I recently had a talk with Safwat Ghali, former head of the Basic Nuclear Science Department at the Research Centre of the Nuclear Energy Organisation. He told me that nuclear engineering should become a priority in our education system, for otherwise we would grow dependent on foreign expertise.

Today, nearly 16 per cent of world production of electricity comes from nuclear power plants. This ratio is only likely to grow in time. You may think that turning nuclear today would be a bit drastic. But you cannot have trained scientists overnight. We have to start training the young now, so that they may run our power plants in the future.

This week's Soapbox speaker is a senior editor at Al-Ahram.