nuclear-news

Bahrain to set up nuclear radiation monitoring centre

CENTRE TO MONITOR NUCLEAR RADIATION http://www.gulf-daily-news.com/NewsDetails.aspx?storyid=358742By Ahmed Al Omari ,   Tuesday, August 06, 2013

MANAMA: Bahrain may soon set up a nuclear radiation monitoring centre.

This comes amidst growing concerns over threats of a fallout from Iran’s disputed nuclear power plant at Bushehr, just 300km away from Bahrain, across the Gulf.

The GCC last month raised concerns about radiation leaks from the facility after a 6.3 magnitude earthquake hit Iran in April earlier this year, killing more than 60 people.

Supreme Council for Environment (SCE) director-general Dr Adel Al Zayani believes a National Centre for Radiation could be approved within a week – the National Disaster Committee is currently studying a SCE proposal in this regard.

He said the nuclear threat has become larger with neighbouring countries moving toward using atomic facilities for energy production.

Saudi Arabia has announced plans to set up 16 nuclear reactors within the next 20 years and two are already being built in the UAE.

Dr Al Zayani said the proposed centre is designed to become a resource for the field of radiation and to prevent local disasters if they occur regionally.

“The centre will give Bahrain a more dedicated and faster radiation warning and reporting system.”

The centre will also give training to Bahrainis in subjects such as nuclear physics..

August 6, 2013 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | MIDDLE EAST, radiation