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Libya
The Search for Nuclear Technology
In 1975 Libya had ratified the United Nations (UN) Nuclear NonProliferation
Treaty signed by the Idris regime in 1969. In 1980 an agreement
was reached with the International Atomic Energy Agency placing
all of Libya's nuclear installations under international inspection.
Despite these steps, in the mid- and late 1970s, Qadhafi repeatedly
proclaimed his country's determination to acquire nuclear weapons,
primarily because he was convinced that his archenemy, Israel,
had achieved such a military capability.
Qadhafi sought help in obtaining nuclear technology from a number
of countries, including the People's Republic of China. Among
these efforts, the cooperation with Pakistan launched in 1977
seemed for a time to be producing material results. Libya appeared
to be providing financial assistance and, later, deliveries of
uranium "yellow cake" originating in Niger in the hope of eventually
being compensated by weapons from Pakistan. However, in an interview
with an Indian newspaper in March 1986, Qadhafi declared that
Libya would never help Pakistan acquire an atomic bomb. He said:
"We consider nuclear weapons production a great mistake against
humanity."
A 10-megawatt nuclear research reactor supplied by the Soviet
Union in 1979 was installed at a research center at Tajura near
Tripoli staffed by 750 Libyan specialists and technicians. Many
students were sent abroad; a group of 200 was studying in the
United States until early 1983 when the United States proscribed
training Libyans in nuclear science. Libya planned to buy a power
station from the Soviet Union, but, dissatisfied with the technology
involved, negotiated with the Belgian firm of Belgonucleaire to
take over the engineering contract and supply much of the needed
equipment. After the United States objected, fearing use of the
equipment in weapons development, Belgium decided in 1984 to refuse
the US$1 billion contract. Shortly thereafter, Moscow's commitment
to construct an 880-megawatt power station to be located in the
Surt region was reaffirmed. It was to cost over US$4 billion,
with repayment to stretch over 15 to 18 years.
Libya had a theoretical capability of delivering nuclear weapons
in the form of Scud and FROG missiles and missiles delivered by
medium-range Tu-22 bombers. Suspicions that Libya was seeking
to acquire a medium-range missile capability were aroused in 1980
when it was revealed that the West German firm, Orbital Transport-und-Raketen
Aktiengesellschaft (OTRAG), had built a rocket-testing base in
the Libyan desert. OTRAG, which had earlier been forced to give
up a testing site in Zaire, claimed that it was working on a nonmilitary
rocket to enable Third World countries to launch satellites cheaply.
Data as of 1987
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