Global Security Newswire

Libya indicated Wednesday it is moving to establish a peaceful nuclear program through work with multiple nations that signed civilian nuclear trade deals with the African state, the Pan-African News Agency reported (see GSN, Aug. 3, 2008).

Tripoli has settled on various initial steps to take toward establishing a civilian nuclear program, Libyan official Ali Mohamed Ghachout said, adding that the effort would focus on generating electricity and removal of salt from water.

A new government commission is working to regulate Libya's nuclear power program through statutory guidelines, while a separate panel would choose the locations of the country's future nuclear power plants and carry out related work, Ghachout said.

In addition, a new nuclear control board would assist in regulation, he said.

Ghachout added that an updated version of one Libyan civilian nuclear trade deal -- signed with the French Atomic Energy Commission and the French firm Areva -- has taken effect. Since formally abandoning its nuclear-weapon and other WMD programs in 2003, the African nation has also signed civilian nuclear cooperation deals with Argentina, Canada, Russia and Ukraine (Pan-African News Agency/Afriquejet.com, Jan. 8).