Building a nuclear power plant has been on the agenda of the energy sector in Israel since the 1970s. As part of the decision to diversify the country’s fuel mix, following the energy crisis of the October 1973 War and the oil embargo imposed on Israel and its allies, the possibility of establishing a nuclear power plant was also considered. The State of Israel’s commitment to reducing greenhouse gas emissions, following the ratification of the Paris Agreement in 2016, again raises the idea of integrating nuclear energy into the local fuel mix, but at this stage, only as an idea for consideration, alongside other ideas, such as hydrogen and carbon capture technologies, without setting actual goals.
Despite the environmental benefits and safety improvements, it is still a complex and complicated issue with political implications and significant planning, operational, economic, financial, legal, and public challenges, mainly because it involves a long-term commitment.
To formulate a national position on the issue, an in-depth examination of the various aspects involved in the purchase, construction, and operation of a nuclear power plant in Israel must be performed, taking into account the threshold conditions required to execute a national project of this magnitude. Decisions must be made with a view that includes political, technical, planning, economic, legal, environmental and public considerations.
