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Updated August 2005
Nuclear Chronology
1970s
This annotated chronology is based on the data sources that follow each entry. Public sources often provide conflicting information on classified military programs. In some cases we are unable to resolve these discrepancies, in others we have deliberately refrained from doing so to highlight the potential influence of false or misleading information as it appeared over time. In many cases, we are unable to independently verify claims. Hence in reviewing this chronology, readers should take into account the credibility of the sources employed here.
Inclusion in this chronology does not necessarily indicate that a particular development is of direct or indirect proliferation significance. Some entries provide international or domestic context for technological development and national policymaking. Moreover, some entries may refer to developments with positive consequences for nonproliferation.
1970
Egypt discovers uranium deposits in the Wadi Atallah region as well as minerals "secondary to uranium" in the Al Masika and al-Aridiyah regions.
— "Uranium Finds Expected to Increase Energy Sufficiency," Al-Sharq Al-Awsat, 14 November 1990, in FBIS, JPRS-TND-91-003, 25 February 1991.
1970
The Design Consultants Association draws up plans for the construction of a "dual-purpose 40MW nuclear desalination plant" at Alexandria with the approval and support of Libyan President Muammar Qadhafi. [Note: The plans are subsequently canceled due to a rift between Egypt and Libya.]
— Shyam Bhatia, Nuclear Rivals in the Middle East (New York: Routledge, 1988), p. 57.
1970
Egypt signs a nuclear cooperation agreement with India. The agreement anticipates joint research in the production of heavy water, nuclear fuels, and raw materials prospecting.
— Barbara M. Gregory, "Egypt's Nuclear Program Assessing Supplier-Based and Other Developmental Constraints," Nonproliferation Review, Fall 1995, p. 21.
September 1970
President Nasser dies. Vice-President Anwar Sadat becomes president.
— "Timeline: Egypt," BBC News, 3 March 2003, <http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/country_profiles/790979.stm>.
October 1973
Egypt and Syria launch an attack against Israel to reclaim territories lost in the Six Day War. Egypt imports nine Soviet launchers and approximately 18 Scud-B missiles. The Soviet Union reportedly prepares to send nuclear warheads for the Scud-B to Egypt during the war in response to Israel's deployment of nuclear weapons. [Note: Though not a clear-cut winner, Egypt's successful initial strike against Israel highlights the fact the latter is not invincible and thus raises Sadat's image tremendously. This paves the way for Sadat to implement his desired policies, including a civilian nuclear program.]
— "Timeline: Egypt," BBC News, 3 March 2003, <http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/country_profiles/790979.stm>; The Risk Report, Vol. 6 No 5 (September-October 2000).
1974-1979
Egypt holds secret talks with French companies to improve the country's nuclear research center. The talks involve negotiations with Technicatome to upgrade the research reactor at Inshas from 2MW to 10MW.
— Shyam Bhatia, Nuclear Rivals in the Middle East (New York: Routledge, 1988), p. 60.
14 June 1974
U.S. President Richard Nixon and Egyptian President Anwar Sadat jointly endorse a statement of "Principles of Relations and Cooperation between Egypt and the United States," which promises cooperation in the nuclear sphere.
— G. Henry M. Schuler (ed.), Egypt and Nuclear Technology: The "Peace Dividend," Significant Issues Series, Vol. 5, No. 9, Center for Strategic and International Studies, 1983, p. 1.
November 1974
Egyptian Foreign Minister Fahmi announces that the Soviet Union has agreed to provide Egypt with a 460MW nuclear reactor.
— Mohammad El-Sayed Selim, "Egypt and the Middle Eastern Nuclear Issue," Strategic Analysis, January 1996, p. 1385-86.
1975
Prompted by Israel's statements that it might use nuclear weapons in future conflicts with Arab states, President Sadat establishes and assumes chairmanship of the Higher Council for Atomic Energy. The Council is formed to expedite the development of Egypt's nuclear program. Military officers comprise two-thirds of the Council's membership.
— Mohammad El-Sayed Selim, "Egypt and the Middle Eastern Nuclear Issue," Strategic Analysis, January 1996, p. 1386; G. Henry M. Schuler (ed.), Egypt and Nuclear Technology: The "Peace Dividend," Significant Issues Series, Vol. 5, No. 9, CSIS, 1983, p. 2.
1975
Egypt initiates a nuclear agreement with the United States to support its civilian nuclear program.
— Shyam Bhatia, Nuclear Rivals in the Middle East (New York: Routledge, 1988), p. 60.
1976
Egypt establishes the Nuclear Power Plants Authority (NPPA) to negotiate the purchase of two power reactors from the United States and the subsequent operation of the reactors.
— Shyam Bhatia, Nuclear Rivals in the Middle East (New York: Routledge, 1988), p. 53.
5 August 1976
Egypt initiates a draft purchase agreement for two power reactors with the United States and the IAEA and issues a letter of intent to Westinghouse to build the first 600MW pressurized water reactor on the Alexandrian coast.
— Roger F. Pajak, "Nuclear Status and Policies of the Middle East Countries," International Affairs, Vol. 59, No. 4, Autumn, 1983, p. 595; Shyam Bhatia, Nuclear Rivals in the Middle East (New York: Routledge, 1988), p. 60.
1976
Egypt approaches France's Technicatome to upgrade its Inshas research reactor and also to build a prototype fuel fabrication plant at Inshas. Under pressure from the French government, Technicatome backs away from the deal. France, like the United States, demands that Egypt ratify the NPT before any nuclear agreement takes place.
— Shyam Bhatia, Nuclear Rivals in the Middle East (New York: Routledge, 1988), p. 60.
1977
The Egyptian Nuclear Materials Authority branches off from the geology department of the AEE.
— Shyam Bhatia, Nuclear Rivals in the Middle East (New York: Routledge, 1988), p. 53.
1978
The Board of Atomic Energy and the AEE cease to be autonomous and are brought under the auspices of the Ministry of Electricity.
— Shyam Bhatia, Nuclear Rivals in the Middle East (New York: Routledge, 1988), p. 53.
17 September 1978
Peace negotiations between Israel and Egypt with mediation by the United States culminate in the Camp David Peace Accords, paving the way for normalization of diplomatic and trade relations between Israel and Egypt.
— "County Study and Guide: Egypt," 1Up Info Encyclopedia Online (December 1990), <http://www.1upinfo.com/country-guide-study/egypt/>.
26 March 1979
Egypt and Israel sign a peace treaty, following the Camp David Peace Accords.
— "Timeline: Egypt," BBC News, 3 March 2003, <http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/country_profiles/790979.stm>.
April 1979
The Egyptian government, the U.S. Department of Energy, and the U.S. Department of State issue a Cooperative Energy Assessment for Egypt that states that a nuclear power program of approximately 6,000MW phased over 20 years is a realistic target.
— G. Henry M. Schuler (ed.), Egypt and Nuclear Technology: The "Peace Dividend," Significant Issues Series, Vol. 5, No. 9, CSIS, 1983, p. 10.
This
material is produced independently for NTI by the James Martin Center for
Nonproliferation Studies at the Monterey Institute of International Studies and
does not necessarily reflect the opinions of and has not been independently
verified by NTI or its directors, officers, employees, agents. Copyright © 2008
by MIIS.
