Israel to Produce an Atomic Reactor to Help Meet Energy Problems

Israel has decided to embark on producing an atomic reactor for energy purposes and things have already started rolling, Minister of Commerce Chaim Barlev disclosed today in an address at the national symposium on energy problems in Nathanya. Barlev said that the solutions of the Israeli energy problems could not be limited to the immediate future but rather to the end of this century when the population of Israel will number between 6.5 to 7 million within the pre-Six-Day War borders.

By that time industry would be the main production branch and would account for between 35-40 percent of the gross national product against 27 percent today. He said that while a decision was reached in favor of a nuclear energy source, “we must continue to seek other means of energy like solar energy, wind energy and bituminous coal energy which are available in this country.” He said he was aware of the ecologic problem of a nuclear power station and called on scientists to join in explaining what is permissible and what is not in planning energy resources.

Dr. Zvi Dinstein, advisor on fuel problems to the government, said that consumption of fuel is a sign of development. Israel, a small country, is consuming about half the quantity consumed by the large populated India, he said. Israel is consuming three tons of fuel per capita per annum against four tons in Europe and eight tons in the U.S.

Dr. Dinstein said that in the world-wide energy crisis Israel is no outstanding phenomena. “We shall be affected as other countries are.” The solution for the near future, he said, was in locating new energy resources mainly new oil fields. Israel has decided to intensify oil prospecting and until the time when oil is found in quantities, Israel must maintain a regime of saving energy as much as possible. Dr. Dinstein and other speakers noted that Israel can save up to 30 percent of the present consumption through improving the various industrial installations.