Iraq to bridge energy demand gap with nuclear reactors
Iraq to bridge energy demand gap with nuclear reactors
Iraq is drafting a plan tobuild nuclear reactors after numerous blackouts triggered social unrest throughout the country and threatened its political stability.
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Iraq will focus on building nuclear reactors as an additional source of energy [Getty]
is drafting a plan tobuild nuclear reactors after numerous triggered social unrest throughout the country.
The move comes as preparesto meet a 50% jump in demand before the end of the decade forits growing population.
"Iraq seeks to build eight reactors capable of producing about 11 gigawatts," said Kamal Hussain Latif, chairman of the Iraqi Radioactive Sources Regulatory Authority to Bloomberg.
"It would seek funding from prospective partners for the $40 billion plan and pay back the costs over 20 years," he said, adding that the authority had discussed cooperation with Russian and South Korean officials.
Iraq, which isOPEC's second largest producer of oil, saw its economy devastated by the market downturn,leading to an outbreak of protests.
“We have several forecasts that show that without nuclear power by 2030, we will be in big trouble,” Latif said.
Additionally, Iraq is cutting emissions and focusing onwater shortages usingdesalination, making nuclear power an attractivegreener alternative for the country's energy needs.
The government is already in talks with Russia's Rosatom Corp. to have support in building the reactors, Latif said to Bloomberg.
