Proposal to put civil nuclear power in Bahrain plans

TDT | Manama

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A proposal to bring peaceful nuclear power into Bahrain’s future energy plans has been put forward by MP Dr Maryam Al Dhaen, with small modular reactors already being studied by the Electricity and Water Authority.

Dr Al Dhaen said nuclear technology should be considered as electricity demand grows and Bahrain seeks to reduce its reliance on conventional fuels.

The authority has said it is assessing small modular reactors among several new power technologies for possible use in Bahrain.

The Electricity and Water Authority said the technology was still being developed and tested worldwide and had yet to reach wide commercial use. Any move to adopt it in Bahrain would require licensing and safety assessments under international standards.

She has raised small modular reactors and the use of artificial intelligence in the energy sector as part of that work, arguing that Bahrain should reduce its reliance on conventional energy and preserve resources for future generations.

She said Bahrain needed to balance the use of natural resources with a move towards cleaner, low-carbon energy, while taking account of energy security and climate change.

Renewable power is being pursued alongside the study of nuclear technology.

‘The energy sector has come a long way, especially with net metering now in place,’ Dr Al Dhaen told The Daily Tribune. ‘But we need to make solar energy more practical for first-time homeowners and families with smaller properties, as it remains out of reach for many.’

She also wants factories, companies and public bodies to play a greater role in renewable power.

‘It’s time for factories, companies, and public institutions to share this responsibility,’ she said. ‘Strong guidelines would go a long way.’

Bahrain aims to raise renewable energy to 20pc of its power mix by 2035 as it works towards carbon neutrality by 2060.

Dr Al Dhaen said future sources of power should be studied with the aim of protecting natural resources for coming generations and reducing dependence on conventional energy.