The role of nuclear energy in the future of energy systems in Egypt

Abstract

This paper presents the contribution of nuclear energy in the development of the of energy sector in Egypt. Governments of some Middle East countries like Egypt, Jordan, United Arab of Emirates and Saudi Arabia decided to start the challenge to produce electric power dependent on the nuclear energy. This step is considered the best solution to produce economic and clean energy and there are many countries in the world have achieved a great success in the nuclear energy generation field. However, there are many countries in the Middle East definitely think about nuclear energy because of the wrong belief about nuclear energy that is very dangerous and has fatal accident and harmful radiation to the environment. This paper also shows the generation cost of nuclear energy and explains how it can be considered as economic and clean energy generation type when it is compared with other types of energy generation like coal and natural gas-fired energy generation types. History and techniques of nuclear fission to produce thermal energy required to convert water into saturated steam needed to drive the steam turbine to generate electricity will be discussed in this paper. This paper handles the subject of nuclear energy generation in Egypt and shows the concern of the Egyptian government to purchase the first nuclear power plant located in El-Dhabaa city, north of Egypt. This nuclear power plant is proposed to generate 4800-MW containing four 1200-MW nuclear reactor with corporation with Russian Rosatom company. This project would be constructed throughout 9 years from 2019 to 2028. Finally, safety and environmental considerations which must be applied in the nuclear power plants will be discussed because it is considered the definitive proof which invalidates allegation that nuclear energy is dangerous energy generation type and able to cause fatal radiation accidents.