Morocco to Add Nuclear Power to Long-term Energy Mix- Official

Nuclear power may be well included in Morocco’s energy mix as the country forges ahead with its strategy to promote clean energy and efficiency, said Khalid El Mediouri, Director General of the National Centre for Nuclear Energy, Sciences and Technology Techniques (CNESTEN) and Chair of the Nuclear Power and Seawater Desalination Committee (CRED).

“Morocco’s national energy strategy is considering nuclear power as a long-term alternative to meet the country’s future needs,” El Mediouri was quoted as saying in article posted on the website of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

Mediouri who chairs the CRED, set up in 2009 by the Ministry of Energy, Mines, Water and Environment, said that Morocco is prospecting the needs in terms of infrastructure required for a nuclear power project compliant with international standards.

On Morocco’s cooperation with the IAEA, Mediouri said that the Kingdom “recognizes the importance and the usefulness of the IAEA’s Milestones approach and its associated technical assistance programs.”

In this regards, the Moroccan official shed light on the IAEA’s methodology that guides countries and organizations to work in a systematic way towards the introduction of nuclear power. “Through the integrated work plan, the IAEA continues its valuable assistance for the implementation of the INIR mission recommendations. This supports further progress in Morocco’s nuclear infrastructure development,” he said.

IAEA has offered help to several countries in terms of energy planning, analysis and nuclear expertise. In the past two years in Africa, the IAEA has conducted four Integrated Nuclear Infrastructure Review (INIR) missions to Ghana, Kenya, Morocco and Nigeria.

In October 2015, Morocco hosted an INIR mission and developed an action plan to address the mission’s recommendations and suggestions.

The IAEA article noted that the use of nuclear technology in Morocco dates back to the 1950s. The North African country used this technology in fields ranging from medicine to agriculture and industry.

“Under the supervision of CNESTEN, Morocco operates the MA-RA1 research reactor at the Maâmora Nuclear Research Centre. It is used for research in nuclear energy, neutron activation analysis, geochronology research, education and training,” said the article.

“Morocco is playing an important role in strengthening South–South cooperation by providing IAEA-supported education and training for African countries, mainly through regional designated centres in the fields of radiation safety, radiotherapy, nutrition, non-destructive testing and water resources,” underscored the IAEA.