Publication Laka-library:
An overview of nuclear facilities in Iran, Israel and Turkey (2007)
| Author | Greenpeace Mediterranean |
| Date | February 2007 |
| Classification | 5.01.0.00/01 (MIDDLE EAST - GENERAL) |
| Front | 
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From the publication:
INTRODUCTION The Middle East is at a nuclear crossroads and the road taken will shape the region for decades to come. The trajectory of the nuclear road is clear, and threatens to create a region in which nuclear technology is common place and carries with it a host of inherent dangers: from routine radioactive discharges to the problem of how to isolate long lived deadly radioactive wastes from the environment over timescales beyond human or technical imagination. It also carries with it fear and suspicion; the fear and suspicion that the interchangeable 'dual-use' technologies of so-called peaceful nuclear power will be perverted to the purpose of war, into the development of nuclear weapons. Whilst nuclear activities and developments in the region have been largely dominated over the last three decades by Israel's undeclared activities, the scale of Iran's nuclear ambitions have focused international attention more closely on the region. The debate over the right to so-called peaceful uses of nuclear technology has contributed to decisions by many other states in the region to pursue their own nuclear energy programmes: it is no coincidence that Saudi Arabia UAE, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain and Oman (1), Yemen (2), and Egypt (3) have all announced, in the last twelve months, plans to establish or revive nuclear programmes. Also, it must not be forgotten that 90US/NATO nuclear weapons loom over the region from the Incirlik Airbase in Turkey. Civil nuclear developments as we can see in the Middle East today create 'virtual proliferation' which in turn can give way to real nuclear weapons proliferation. However, regardless of the military threat and the intentions of nascent nuclear nations, nuclear power is a tragic mistake of the second half of the twentieth century. Nations of the Middle East would be well advised to leap frog the errors of the West and instead embrace non-nuclear energy futures based on energy efficiency, energy conservation and peaceful renewable energy sources. This review of nuclear developments in the Middle East focuses on Turkey, Israel and Iran, but contains lessons and warnings for all countries in the region. In each country the report outlines some of the possible risks to the environment and human health as a consequence of continuing to operate and/or commission nuclear facilities such as nuclear power plants, research reactors and uranium enrichment facilities.
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