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Earthquake danger to Iran’s nuclear plant

Iran is one of the most seismic countries in the word. The Islamic Republic experiences at least one slight earthquake every day and even moderate earthquakes have killed thousands of people in more remote areas. Iran is surrounded by tectonically active zones and has experienced several heavy earthquakes in the recent years striking all sides of the country…..Surprisingly little attention is paid by scholars and the media to how earthquakes could possibly affect Iran’s nuclear facilities.

Earthquakes: Iran not Safe for Nuclear Energy, Global Arab Network |Gerlinde Gerber, 4 April 11, “………As the world anxiously looks to the nuclear reactors in Japan, with a broken down cooling system following an earthquake and tsunami, the dangers and vulnerabilities of nuclear energy production once again come to mind. A country, which is equally prone to earthquakes like Japan, is Iran……. Continue reading →

April 4, 2011 Posted by | Iran, safety | Leave a comment

Fukushima now causing a rethink in Iran, about nuclear power

The risks of a nuclear meltdown and the release of radioactive material are not limited to Iran. Bushehr is closer in proximity to Kuwait, Bahrain, and Saudi Arabia’s oil rich eastern province than it is to Tehran.

Will Fukushima Force Iran to Reconsider Nuclear Program? The Atlantic, By Karim Sadjadpour, Ali Vaez & Fariborz Ghadar, Apr 1 2011, The country’s rogue energy program isn’t worth the humanitarian danger, the economic cost, or whatever scant power it might provide
While Japan’s unfolding nuclear and humanitarian crisis resurrected longstanding fears in the West about the safety of nuclear power and the potential vulnerabilities of the world’s over 400 operational nuclear power plants, among Iranians it seems to have inaugurated a long overdue debate. Continue reading →

April 4, 2011 Posted by | Iran, politics | Leave a comment

Despite political turmoil, Egypt to go ahead with nuclear power

Egypt says to press ahead with nuclear tender CAIRO, March 9 (Reuters) – Egypt’s Electricity Minister said the country would go ahead with a tender for the construction of its first nuclear power plant despite recent political unrest, a government Facebook page reported on Wednesday. Egypt says to press ahead with nuclear tender | Energy & Oil | Reuters

March 10, 2011 Posted by | Egypt, politics | Leave a comment

Iran to get uranium from Zimbabwe

Zimbabwe to sell uranium to Iran,  Telegraph, bu Aislinn Laing, 6 Mar 11, Zimbabwe is to defy United Nations sanctions in a deal to sell uranium to Iran

Simbarashe Mumbengegwi, Zimbabwe‘s foreign minister, said the sanctions – which prohibit member states from providing Iran with raw materials that it could use to make a nuclear weapon – were unfair and hypocritical.

He said that Zimbabwe, which is also the subject of sanctions over human rights abuses perpetrated by President Robert Mugabe’s supporters, would benefit economically from the agreement.

A leaked intelligence report suggests Iran will be awarded with exclusive access to Zimbabwe’s uranium in return for providing the country with fuel……. Zimbabwe to sell uranium to Iran – Telegraph

March 7, 2011 Posted by | Iran, politics international, Uranium | Leave a comment

Nuclear weapons are against Iran’s religious principles

Iranian minister: Islam opposes nukes  03.04.11,   / Israel News Share on  The development or use of nuclear weapons contradicts Iran’s religious principles and would violate the tenets of Islam, the country’s Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi says. “Islamic Republic authorities have reiterated that nuclear arms are against the country’s religious principals,” Salehi said in an interview with the Euronews channel in Germany said. “We have been committed to the NPT and believe that the proliferation of a nuclear bomb is against the tenets of Islam.” (Ynet) Iranian minister: Islam opposes nukes – Israel News, Ynetnews

March 5, 2011 Posted by | Iran, Religion and ethics | Leave a comment

Inspection of Syria’s nuclear sites by IAEA

Syria agrees to IAEA inspection of nuclear site, Google hosted news, (AFP) – 3 March 11, VIENNA — Syria has agreed to a vist by inspectors from the Vienna-based International Atomic Energy Agency to a nuclear site for the first time since June 2008, diplomats said Wednesday.The site, at Homs in the west of the country, is known to the IAEA and is not thought to be suspect.”Syria has agreed to the principle of a visit,” said a source close to the IAEA. It is due to take place on April 1 though the details remain to be determined.The agreement follows numerous requests and growing impatience on the part of the agency with Damascus’s refusals.The visit will not take in a posible uranium enrichment facility at Al Kibar, which was bombed by Israeli warplanes in 2007, the source said….. AFP: Syria agrees to IAEA inspection of nuclear site

March 3, 2011 Posted by | politics international, Syria | Leave a comment

Iran’s nuclear reactor in serious safety trouble?

Signs of serious trouble at Iran’s nuclear reactor, guardian.co.uk, Julian Borger, 26 Feb 2011, “……Today, Iran confirmed a UN report that it will have to remove the uranium fuel rod assemblies from the reactor core, a significant setback.The reactor has been under construction since the Shah’s era in the 1970’s. The fuel assemblies were finally introduced into the reactor four months ago and it was meant to start producing electricity in January, but that deadline was missed.

Ali Asghar Soltanieh, Tehran’s envoy to the International Atomic Energy Agency, told the ISNA news agency that the fuel was being removed on Russian advice……Signs of serious trouble at Iran’s nuclear reactor | World news | guardian.co.uk

February 27, 2011 Posted by | Iran, safety | Leave a comment

Syria might have had a nuclear power project in the past

Suspected Nuclear Facility Sighted in Syria, NTI: Global Security Newswire, Feb. 24, 2011 A site near the Syrian capital of Damascus has gained attention among Western intelligence services as a possible one-time host to undisclosed atomic activities in the Middle Eastern nation, Reuters reported. Continue reading →

February 25, 2011 Posted by | politics international, Syria | Leave a comment

Middle East revolutions ushering in a new chapter for renewable energy?

Initiatives such as Desertec offer a possibility for how the international community might start a new energy chapter with the Middle East, one that provides a renewable energy source, creates jobs, and increases potable water.

Renewable Energy and the Middle East Revolutions, corporate social responsibility – Forbes. Feb. 22 2011 – by Avril David As protesters across the Middle East continue their fight for democracy and liberation, speculators have drawn attention to the inevitable impact of this instability and change on the oil and gas sector, in oil price spikes. Looking at these two trends—calls for democratic empowerment and spiking oil prices—it seems that we could be nearing the time for seriously putting the renewable energy discussion (and renewable energy partnerships) back on the table. Continue reading →

February 25, 2011 Posted by | MIDDLE EAST, renewable | Leave a comment

Gaddafi and Libya’s nuclear deals

For the moment, the Tajoura reactor remains in the part of the country still controlled by forces loyal to Qaddafi, who has vowed to “fight to the last drop of blood” to remain in power. Its current status is unknown.

Nuclear Madness in Tripoli. The New York Review of Books, Jeremy Bernstein, 24 Feb 2011, If any further proof is needed of Libyan strongman Muammar Qaddafi’s mental instability it is provided by WikiLeaks dispatches from US diplomats in Tripoli in November and December of 2009. At issue was some nearly loose nuclear material, a Russian plane, and a lone security guard—a footnote in the WikiLeaks scandal that many may have missed…….. Continue reading →

February 24, 2011 Posted by | MIDDLE EAST, secrets,lies and civil liberties, Wikileaks | Leave a comment

Egypt’s nuclear plant delayed because of political instability

Unrest delays Egypt nuclear power plant tender.larabia.net 20 Feb 2011 The instability in Egypt has delayed the tender for the country’s first nuclear power plant, a state-owned newspaper reported on Saturday.”It has been decided to postpone the international tender for the construction … of the first nuclear power plant in al-Dabaa until the stabilization of the situation in the country,” al-Ahram said.The tender process, due in January, has been delayed to “guarantee the greatest number of companies” from different countries take part to ensure “real competition,” it said…….The ruling Supreme Council of the Armed Forces warned on Friday that it will no longer tolerate protests that disrupt Egypt’s economy…..Unrest delays Egypt nuclear power plant tender

February 20, 2011 Posted by | Egypt, politics | Leave a comment

Nuclear weapons or not – for Egypt?

“The most one could say is that Egypt may be desiring to keep its options open. And among the Egyptian body politic, there is a point of view expressed by several parties that Egypt should pursue nuclear weapons.”………..

Will New Egyptian Government Pursue Nuclear Weapons?  Voice of America, 18 Feb 2011, “…..Egypt has two nuclear research reactors located near Cairo. They are used for peaceful purposes and are under International Atomic Energy Agency – or IAEA – safeguards. Continue reading →

February 19, 2011 Posted by | Egypt, politics international | Leave a comment

Wikileaks: details on Egypt’s nuclear reactor contract

Contract Signed for Egypt’s First Nuclear Plant – Telegraph, 16 Feb 2011, “……….On June 18, 2009, WorleyParsons Ltd. signed a contract with the Egyptian Ministry of Electricity and Energy for the development of Egypt’s first Nuclear power plant. Ambassador Scobey, Australian Ambassador Stephanie Shwabsky, and Egyptian Prime Minister Dr. Ahmed Nazif were present at the signing along with Worley’s President, Ron McNeilly and Dr. Rames Khalil, Worley’s Regional Power Manager for Egypt and Africa…….Contract Signed for Egypt’s First Nuclear Plant – Telegraph

February 16, 2011 Posted by | Egypt, Wikileaks | Leave a comment

Egypt has never come clean about its nuclear projects

Why has Egypt never come clean about the full scope of its nuclear activities and experimentation?…..

Egypt’s Nuclear Dimension, THE HUFFINGTON POST, Joe Cirincione, 13 Feb 2011, As a free Egypt transforms itself, analysts are nervously watching for signs of new nuclear ambitions. Concern revolves around three issues: Continue reading →

February 15, 2011 Posted by | Egypt, secrets,lies and civil liberties | Leave a comment

Egypt’s surreptitious nuclear arms program a problem for USA

Egypt has been quietly carrying out research and development on weapons of mass destruction — including nuclear

Egypt’s WMD programs complicate U.S. response, World blog, 7 Feb 2011, With Egypt in revolt and the country’s future uncertain, concern is growing over whether a new government in the Arab world’s most militarily and industrially advanced country could accelerate an arms race in one of the world’s most volatile regions. Continue reading →

February 8, 2011 Posted by | Egypt, politics international, weapons and war | Leave a comment