Incident of Vanishing News Article
In a surprise turn of events, an article written by Professor Nader Nour Eddin on the potential of solar energy in Egypt has been republished by masrawy.com a day after it was removed from both Al-Ahram and its initial publishing platform. The article, which first appeared in Al-Ahram on December 24, 2022, sparked controversy due to its audacious stand on the government's energy policy.
The article argues that Egypt has enough solar energy potential to boost its economy by around US$90 billion, a claim supported by the ambitious Desertec project, which envisions creating solar farms across North Africa. This potential, according to the professor, far outweighs the benefits of the government's top priority nuclear energy project.
The article also emphasises the superior sustainability and safety of solar energy compared to nuclear energy, citing previous accidents related to the operation of nuclear power plants in Europe and elsewhere. It further argues that solar energy fits better with the Egyptian conditions, a point that has been widely debated in the public sphere.
The removal of the article from Al-Ahram and masrawy.com within hours of its publication raised eyebrows, with some viewing it as an attempt to silence the advice of experts. However, the reasons for the removal remain unclear as no official statement has been made.
Interestingly, a copy of the article was salvaged by an unnamed individual on a Blackberry, believed to be the last electronic copy available. This copy has since been circulated among various news outlets, ensuring the article's message reaches a wider audience.
The article's reappearance on masrawy.com suggests a reconsideration of its initial decision to remove it. Public debate is indeed necessary when discussing major projects, such as a nuclear power plant, and the resurfacing of this article may signal a shift towards more open discourse on such matters.
As the world continues to grapple with climate change and the need for sustainable energy solutions, articles like this serve as a reminder of the importance of open dialogue and the role of experts in guiding policy decisions. The solar energy debate in Egypt is far from over, and it will be interesting to see how this unfolds in the coming months.
- The solar energy potential in Egypt, as suggested by Professor Nour Eddin's article, extends beyond nuclear energy, with the potential to boost Egypt's economy by approximately US$90 billion, a claim substantiated by the Desertec project.
- The debate surrounding the solar energy versus nuclear energy in Egypt has been prominent, with the article emphasizing the superior sustainability and safety of solar energy, referring to past nuclear accidents in Europe and elsewhere.
- Amidst ongoing discussions about climate change and sustainable energy solutions, the solar energy debate in Egypt, sparked by Professor Nour Eddin's article, underscores the significance of open dialogue and the influence of expert advice in shaping policy decisions, particularly in the context of environmental science and finance.
