Israel Will Build an Atomic Power Plant; Can Utilize Its Own Uranium

The prediction that, with American help, Israel’s utilization of atomic energy will become the most important factor in the power development of the Jewish State was made at a press conference here today by Dr. Ernst D. Bergmann, chairman of Israel’s Atomic Energy Commission. Dr. Bergmann, who for the past three weeks has been touring atomic energy installations in this country as a guest of the U.S. Atomic Energy Commission, said that scientific work now being done in Israel can benefit the entire Mediterranean region, in particular the Arab countries.

Dr. Bergmann said Israel will be enabled to build an atomic power plant, utilizing uranium extracted from phosphates in the Negev desert. “We have large quantities of these phosphates. Our uranium production will be limited only by the amount of phosphate fertilizers we manufacture,” he declared. He related that the Israelis developed a process for the production of heavy waters several years ago, a process which is now in the pilot plant stage.

Asked about gains to be derived from the start of the Jordan Valley Authority project, which would harness the Jordan River for irrigation and power production, he explained: “There are three other sources of power we are developing–oil, solar and atomic energy. I count the latter most important. The JVA will irrigate the Negev desert and increase food production; we also plan to desalt water and apply it for agriculture and industry.”