Unidentified thieves stole a container holding radioactive materials from the construction site of the first Egyptian nuclear power plant on the coast of the Mediterranean Sea, RIA Novosti reports.
Another container was found broken with part of its content stolen. The government ordered searches for the materials.
Locals from the Dabaa District have been blocking the construction site of the nuclear power plant and threatening to attack anyone who tries to stop their protests against the construction. Workers have refused to enter the site.
Dabaa is located west of Alexandria, chosen as a construction site for the first nuclear power plant by President Hosni Mubarak. IAEA experts said that the area is suitable for the construction. Mubarak announced the nuclear program in late 2007, planning to build 8 nuclear reactors. The Egyptian Ministry for Energy and Electrification announced a tended for construction of the first nuclear power plant in early 2011. Realization of the project was planned in late 2011 and launch in 2020. Work was halted with the rebellion in Egypt in January 2011.
The territories for the nuclear power plant in Dabaa was to be taken away from the locals. They robbed the facility and stole equipment.
The government threatened to imprison them. Faiz abu an-Nag, Minister for Planning and International Cooperation, said that the authorities would do their best to prevent illegal actions.
