"These are the two pre-conditions [for a nuclear reactor]," Al Ghanim
said on the sidelines of the MENA Nuclear Energy Forum on Nov. 11.
Officials acknowledged that Qatar was moving toward a nuclear energy
program. They said Doha contains sufficient natural gas reserves for its
power requirements, but seeks to reserve this for export.
"Traditionally we have not considered nuclear technology an option,"
Qatari Energy Minister Abdullah Bin Hamad Al Attiyah said.
In an address to the forum on Nov. 10, Abdullah said Qatar was
challenged by the huge increase in power consumption. The minister said the
Gulf and the rest of the Middle East has been developing economically, a
process that demands clean and affordable energy.
"Such growth represents a significant test for governments in the region
who have the job of ensuring that their national energy infrastructure is
capable of meeting the challenges ahead," Abdullah said. "This has prompted
governments to review their current energy strategies to ensure that
adequate measures are in place to guarantee a safe, reliable and economic
supply of energy."
Qatar has been one of at least four Gulf Cooperation Council states that was studying the
feasibility of nuclear energy. Doha has signed nuclear cooperation
agreements with several countries and was working on a study with the
International Atomic Energy Agency.
Abdullah, joined by other GCC ministers, said any nuclear energy program
must address safety, waste management and public response. The minister said
Qatar and other regional states must engage in careful planning and
training.
"Some of the key challenges before the governments include establishing
and maintaining effective regulatory system for nuclear facilities,
developing human resource capacity in areas critical to the operation and
supervision of facilities, ensuring sufficient financial resources are made
available to sustain the safe operation of facilities, developing suitable
arrangements for the long-term management of nuclear waste and establishing
open and transparent lines of communication with neighboring states on safe
operation of nuclear reactors," Abdullah said.
