Nuclear power vital to meet Middle East water demand

• 6 years ago (2017-06-21)
• David Flin

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Seawater desalination through nuclear energy could solve the predicted problems of water-stressed areas, according to experts at the AtomExpo atomic energy summit in Moscow. It has been estimated that over half of the world’s population will live in such areas by 2030, up from 36 per cent in 2015.

Denis Borisov, Projects Manager at Roland Berger, a global strategy consultancy, said: “There are many factors for the increase in water demand in the future, namely the growth of population, urbanisation, and a change in the patterns of consumption. But this growth cannot happen without an increase in energy consumption.”

Alexey Panteleev, Head of Fuel and Water Technology at the National Research University Moscow Power Engineering Institute said: “Nuclear is a good technology for power generation. We believe nuclear power will greatly contribute to water treatment. Only 3 per cent of the water on Earth is suitable for industrial or human use, with the rest being salty or brackish, contributing to the shortages many populous nations face.”

Hamad Alkaabi, UAE Ambassador to the International Atomic Energy Agency, said: “Seawater desalination is the lifeline for some regions, including the Gulf. Nuclear is a proven technology that provides over 16 per cent of the world’s electricity in more than 30 countries. The option of combining nuclear power with seawater desalination has been proven and has the potential for wider commercial use in the near future. It is only logical that we investigate the potential for nuclear desalination in the future – a technology that could provide large-scale and sustainable solutions.”