The site of Israel’s first nuclear power station has been selected, after 11 years of studies and tests that cost $20 million. It will be located in the Negev, just off the Beersheba-Nitzana road, according to the chief engineer of the Israel Electric Corp., a state-owned enterprise.
Negotiations for the purchase of a nuclear power reactor are underway with possible suppliers in West Germany, France, Canada and the U.S. But before the project can be started, a political decision has to be made whether or not to build the power station.
Once approved, it will take a decade to complete and will cost $2 billion. It would not be operational before the year 2000 but would provide between 2,500 and 4,000 jobs during construction. Once operational, an estimated 350 employes would be required to run the plant.
Meanwhile, Israel will build two more conventional coal-fired power-generating plants near Ashkelon, scheduled for completion in 1990. One of the two existing plants in Haifa and Hadera will be expanded.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
