Nuclear energy in Libya
Libya became a member of the IAEA in 1963.
Libya has a Soviet-designed 10 MWt research reactor in Tajura that was built 1981.
In the late 1970s Libya signed a contract with the Soviet nuclear company Atomenergoexport for two VVER-440 reactors, each delivering 440 MW[1][2] of electrical power on the Gulf of Sirte. The reactors were intended to serve a dual-use for electric power generation and seawater desalination.[3] As Libya was discontented with the technology the USSR wanted to provide them with, the Belgian nuclear company Belgonucleaire was asked to take over the contract. However, due to objection from the United States for concerns regarding misuse of nuclear weapons development, Belgonucleaire refused and Libya asked the USSR again. In the end, the project was stopped during its planning phase in 1986.[4][5]
In 2006 Libya and France signed an agreement on peaceful uses of atomic energy,[6] and in July 2007, they signed a memorandum of understanding related to building a mid-sized nuclear plant with Areva reactor for seawater desalination. This deal was opposed by Germany.[7] This was followed by a memorandum with Canada, to share nuclear medicine, desalinization technology and co-operation over nuclear energy research. [8]
In 2010 Libya confirmed that it intended to create a nuclear energy sector.[9]
References
- ^ "Nuclear Power Reactor Details - LIBYA-1". PRIS. IAEA. Archived from the original on 4 June 2011. Retrieved 14 September 2013.
{{cite web}}: Unknown parameter|deadurl=ignored (|url-status=suggested) (help) - ^ "Nuclear Power Reactor Details - LIBYA-2". PRIS. IAEA. Archived from the original on 4 June 2011. Retrieved 14 September 2013.
{{cite web}}: Unknown parameter|deadurl=ignored (|url-status=suggested) (help) - ^ Megahed, Mohamed M. (2001). "Nuclear desalination: history and prospects" (PDF). Desalination. 135: 173. doi:10.1016/S0011-9164(01)00148-5. Archived from the original (PDF) on 15 July 2007. Retrieved 14 September 2013.
{{cite journal}}: Unknown parameter|deadurl=ignored (|url-status=suggested) (help) - ^ "Libyan Nuclear Weapons". GlobalSecurity.org. Retrieved 14 September 2013.
- ^ "Libya Nuclear Chronology" (PDF). NTI. Retrieved 14 September 2013.
- ^ "Libya in 'milestone' nuclear deal". BBC News. 16 March 2006.
- ^ "Germans attack Libya nuclear deal". BBC. 27 July 2007. Retrieved 4 August 2007.
- ^ "Canada and Libya look to cooperate". World Nuclear News. 31 July 2009. Retrieved 23 April 2013.
- ^ "Libya moving forward with nuclear power plans". World Nuclear News. 8 January 2010. Retrieved 23 April 2013.