Algeria to Exploit Uranium Reserve to Retain Gas Wealth

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Researched by Industrial Info Resources (Sugar Land, Texas)--Algeria has a power generation capacity of nearly 12,000 megawatts (MW), 95% of which is provided by gas-fired plants. The country plans to raise capacity to 17,500 MW by 2019 to cope with a 7% annual demand growth. The Algerian government's strategy of diversification of the energy resources used in electricity generation aims to exploit available energy resources in the country, such as renewable and nuclear, to retain the country's gas wealth and increase national income through exports.

Algeria has nearly 29,000 tons of proven and exploitable uranium reserves. This resource would enable the operation of two nuclear power plants, each with a capacity of 1,000 MW, for a period of 60 years, the Algerian news agency reported.

"Algeria is studying ways to launch construction of its first nuclear power plant in 2015 through 2020 because the country has sufficient uranium reserves," said Youcef Yousfi, Algeria's Energy and Mines Minister, in January 2011. The minister said that the country currently runs two experimental nuclear reactors in Draria, in the suburbs of the capital Algiers, and another in Ain Oussera, near Djelfa, about 300 kilometers from Algiers.

Algeria is to launch its nuclear program through signed memoranda of understanding and agreements with experienced countries such as South Africa, South Korea and France.

Algeria also is looking to the Japanese nuclear power station explosion for measures that can be taken to avoid such crises. Many European countries have postponed most of their nuclear plants. In addition, many countries have activated their authority to strengthen national infrastructure to control radiation sources.

Algeria planned to commence energy production from the first nuclear station in 2022, and to construct another plant five years after the completion of the first project.

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