Regional cooperation in water-electricity co-generation Part 2. Egypt and Socialist People's Libyan Arab Jamahiriyah

Abstract

Middle East and North African countries suffer from a large shortage of fresh water. Statistical analysis showed that the fresh water per capita in these countries is less than 13% of the average world per capita. In Libya, the available annual average fresh water is less than 150 l/d/capita, which less than 52 and 7% of Middle East and North African countries, and the average world resources per capita respectively. Egypt suffers uneven distribution of fresh water, where the Nile Valley is water stressed area, while the confinement governorates suffer a big shortage of water resources. Among these governorates are the Red Sea, North Sinai, South Sinai and Matrouh governorates. Matrouh governorate in Egypt confines Barka governorate in Libya. According to preliminary environmental and economic studies, advanced inherent safe nuclear power plants adapted for water-electricity cogeneration could satisfy the required demands. Meanwhile, the preliminary studies of the siting assessment of these areas indicated that the coastal strip from El-Dabah to Salloum is the most suitable area for construction of a nuclear power plant adopted for water-electricity cogeneration. The Egyptian and Libyan water and electricity mutual demand projections up to the year 2025 are assigned in accordance with the population and population growth rates. The present study indicated, according to water-electricity demand, the projections that an advanced inherent safe nuclear reactor of medium or large size is suitable and can satisfy the water-electricity demand up to the year 2025. The economical assessment of the proposed nuclear power plant for water-electricity cogeneration has been carried out. This assessment indicates that the proposed station is feasible and competent with the conventional desalination methods.