The UAE, the No. 3 oil producer in the Middle East in August may build the first nuclear-power plant in the Gulf as the country seeks to nearly double power production by 2010. "We are considering building a nuclear power plant because it is cheaper than buying natural gas to fuel power stations, said Ahmad Al Darmaki, Director of Planning and Development at the Abu Dhabi Water and Electricity Authority, ADWEA, in a phone interview from the capital. He did not give a cost estimate.
The authority and the South Korean Ministry of Science and Technology signed a memorandum of understanding on Friday to conduct a study for the plant, which could produce 100 megawatts of electricity and 40 million gallons of water a day. The authority expects to finish the study next year.
Abu Dhabi which produces 90 per cent of the country's oil may spend as much as US$10 billion over the next five years to nearly double power production to 9,000 megawatts, he said. The UAE plans to import gas from Qatar in 2006 to fuel power stations and other industries. (Bloomberg)
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