Israel's minister of infrastructure, Benjamin Ben-Elizier, intends to submit a formal proposal in the coming months for the construction of a nuclear power plant in the country's southern Negev region.
Army Radio quoted Ben-Eliezer as telling a gathering of electrical engineers on Friday that the “government of Israel is to make a historic decision concerning the building of a nuclear power plant,” which will help to alleviate a mounting shortage of electrical power.
Ben-Eliezer said that the plan already has the support of Prime Minister Ehud Olmert. If it is approved by the rest of the government, the plant will take up to eight years to construct.
Israel has in the past been reluctant to build a nuclear power plant since it would require bringing international nuclear inspectors into the country. Israel has for decades remained purposely ambiguous regarding its alleged nuclear weapons facility in the southern town of Dimona.