Algeria mulls construction of first nuclear plant in 2025

The Algerian government is considering to build its first nuclear plant in 2025 to meet the country’s increasing electricity consumption.

Minister of Energy and Mines, Yousef Yousfi was quoted by official APS news agency as saying that the country is planning to set up its first nuclear power plant in 2025.

“The Nuclear Engineering Institute, recently established, will be in charge of providing specific training for engineers and technicians ahead of tasking them with the mission of running the plant,” Yousfi added.

According to the minister, the nation’s 29,000-ton uranium reserves are enough to launch two nuclear power plants with a capacity of 1,000MW each for a period of 60 years.

In November 2008, Algeria said that it is working to build the first nuclear power plant in 2020, and will install one new plant every five years.

The launch of nuclear power is part of a renewable energy program of the government to diversify the country’s energy sources and meet the rising demand on electricity.