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Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)

February 4th, 1998

Mubarak, Menem open Egyptian research reactor for peaceful purposes, Anshas

    President Hosni Mubarak together with President Carlos Menem of Argentina inaugurated today the second new Egyptian nuclear reactor, established in cooperation with Argentina. It is a new accomplishment and a step forward towards expanding the peaceful uses of the Egyptian nuclear programme, launched by Egypt in 1954.

    According to nuclear energy experts, the reactor will contribute to enhancing Egypt's peaceful nuclear potentials and place the country on the Middle East map of nuclear technology.

    The new reactor boasts a highly sophisticated safety and security system, which has been designed by a constellation of Egyptian and Argentinean experts, who have managed to complete the project four months ahead of schedule.

    The Egyptian participation in the implementation of the new reactor reached 60 per cent, as a number of specialised Egyptian companies working in areas of mechanical and electric industries have manufactured many of the reactor's key components.

    The reactor will upgrade Egypt's electric energy via nuclear power. The $30 million reactor is also designed to produce new kinds of isotopes, which are only imported from abroad. It is also annexed with a factory producing nuclear energy necessary for meeting the needs of the Egyptian nuclear projects in the future.

    The project also provides neutrons for patients suffering malignant tumours. The Egyptian scientists are in full charge of operation and maintenance of the reactor after having received advanced training courses on similar projects in Argentina, said an official source at the Egyptian Nuclear Agency.




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