Abstract

Irrigating the Negev: Potential Boon for Israel

In Israel as in many other countries the increasing demand for industrial power may some day be met with atomic energy. Countries which have no natural power sources can benefit greatly from atomic power if the cost of releasing it from atomic fuel is greater than that of producing energy from coal or oil. Savings on the transportation of the fuel may overbalance the expense of atomic installations. Shortage of power is undoubtedly one of Israel's gravest difficulties. Without any known deposits of coal or oil, it depends entirely on imported fuels, and owing to present relations between the Arab states and Israel these imports have to be brought from as far away as Venezuela. The long supply lines, besides being very vulnerable, so increase the cost of fuels, and hence of all finished products, that Israel finds it almost impossible to compete with other countries on the international market.