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starts from the premise that energy in all available forms will be needed
for economic growth and an improvement of the quality of life in
developing countries, and that electricity produced on a large scale will
Nuclear power is seen as likely to have an increasingly
be essential.
important role to play in meeting this need.
The Expert Group noted that at present there are significant
constraints to the introduction and implementation of nuclear power
programmes in developing countries. The difficulty in obtaining
financing is certainly a major constraint but others were also
identified. Most important is that the nuclear power programme must be
an integral part of an overall development programme and the government
must have a strong commitment to the nuclear power programme. Once it
has been launched there should be no wavering about carrying it through.
This means that the necessary infrastructures must have been put in
place. Qualified manpower must be made available at all levels and
organizations must be created for the planning and implementation of the
projects, for operating and regulating the safety of the plants.
Industrial support must be made available and in many cases the electric
grid must be developed, taking into account the future nuclear plants.
On the critical issue of financing the Expert Group noted that
existing agreements on nuclear power financing are not very responsive to
the needs of developing countries. It recommended that new financing
models should be studied, in particular joint venture models in which
suppliers could invest in the developing countries and sell the
electricity until the plant is paid for.
There are many variations
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