N-plant in Negev planned by Israel

Israel wants to build the nuclear power plant in southern Negev desert, where its ambiguous Dimona reactor is located, in order to deal with the predicted growing domestic demand for electricity in the coming decade, according to the report.

Israel is interested in adopting the "Indian model," which could allow it to build an internationally monitored civilian reactor while avoiding monitoring of other nuclear capabilities, the report said.

Plans for building a nuclear reactor in Israel have been in place since the 1960s. The government has already reserved a plot of land for the venture in the southern area.

The Israeli experts in the energy field estimate that the cost of building a nuclear power plant could reach $2 billion - only slightly more than the cost of building technologically advanced coal power plants that are meant to emit far less pollution than older models; Kazinform cites Arab News. See www.arabnews.com for full version.