Lightbridge, Exelon to advise Gulf states
Potential regional cooperation will be the subject of advice to Gulf states from nuclear consulting company Lightbridge and US utility Exelon. The nations want to introduce nuclear power for electricity generation and water desalination.
Potential regional cooperation will be the subject of advice to Gulf states from nuclear consulting company Lightbridge and US utility Exelon. The nations want to introduce nuclear power for electricity generation and water desalination.
Lightbridge said that it has entered into a consulting contract with the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) member states - Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) - "to assess regional cooperation in the development of civilian nuclear power programs." The GCC formalised the contract with Lightbridge and its partner US utility Exelon and other nuclear consultants (including consultants Rizzo & Associates and international law firm Winston & Strawn).
Under the contract, Lightbridge will perform a group of studies to identify and evaluate seven areas for regional cooperation for each GCC member state as they progress with their individual nuclear power programs. The areas of evaluation include: legal issues and liability; nuclear regulation; site assessment; training, R&D, safety culture and human resource capacity building; fuel security and supply; nuclear waste management; and emergency response. The studies will take place over a six-month period and will be completed by the second quarter of 2011.
Seth Grae, president and CEO of Lightbridge commented: "We've had a long-standing dialogue with the GCC and each of its member states, and currently Lightbridge is working in some of these countries." He added, "The GCC is taking important steps toward aligning the interests and needs of its member states to establish a blueprint for regional standards of nuclear power generation."
While Lightbridge will manage the overall project - including the general integration and collective value assessment - the company will tap partner organizations for additional expertise. Exelon will have a significant role in conducting studies in three of the seven assessment area: training, R&D, safety culture and human resource capacity building; fuel security and supply; and emergency response.
President and chief operating officer of Exelon Chris Crane said, "Working with Lightbridge, we look forward to advising the GCC as they seek to develop a safe, secure and non-proliferative nuclear infrastructure to support the region's growing energy needs." He added, "We will help the GCC member states develop their nuclear energy roadmap and help shape their longer-term planning and implementation strategy. We look forward to working with the GCC to help address growing energy demand in this part of the world and advance their nuclear energy objectives."
Officials from the GCC have previously announced their interest in a possible shared nuclear program. The council embarked on a feasibility study for a regional nuclear power and desalination program, in cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), in February 2007.
Researched and written
by World Nuclear News
