‘Kingdom’s nuclear quest faces major obstacles’ | Jordan Times
►http://www.jordantimes.com/index.php?news=42048
Très intéressant compte rendu d’un rapport de la Brookings Institution à propos de la politique jordanienne de se doter d’une centrale nucléaire à l’horizon 2020. Curieusement, cependant, les réticences des voisins et des parrains américains à ce programme ne sont pas évoquées.
In addition to finances and expertise, the report raised smaller, more practical concerns regarding the feasibility of the Kingdom’s nuclear drive.
With the construction of a 1,000 megawatt (MW) reactor, nearly one-sixth of the Kingdom’s electricity supply will come from one source, well above the international limit of 10 per cent and leaving the national grid susceptible to collapse should the plant go offline. “Unless Jordan plans to link with a broader Gulf grid, it simply makes no sense to build a 1,000MW reactor for internal use,” Ebinger said.
[...]
The study also notes the emergence of local protests against the nuclear programme, indicating that the rise in regional civic activity inspired by the Arab Spring has highlighted the need for energy officials in Amman to improve outreach to the general public.
“There has been a little too cavalier attitude that this is a government decision and that the public needs to be informed and not consulted,” said Ebinger. “I think we would argue forcibly: You cannot have enough public consultation for these programmes.”
Et quelles relations avec les révolutions arabes :
“With all the turmoil in the region there is a growing perception that money needs to be diverted from these programmes to support pressing social issues,” said Charles Ebinger, director of Brookings’ Energy Security Initiative and an author of the report.
While increased civic activity on the Arab street may slow national nuclear programmes, another by-product of the Arab Spring - higher oil prices - may aid them, according to the study.
Pour lire le rapport original : ►http://www.brookings.edu/papers/2011/0927_middle_east_nuclear_ebinger_banks.aspx