Monday October 30, 2006

More nations clamor for nuclear energy

peakoil.com -> chicagotribune.com :

In the first surge of interest in building nuclear power plants in decades, countries as far afield as Egypt, Poland, Nigeria and Vietnam expressed nuclear aspirations at the IAEA's annual meeting. The disputes with Iran and North Korea have complicated international nuclear issues but they have also clarified how other nations will have to carefully stake their peaceful claims in a nuclear world. While Iran is attempting to enrich its own uranium, other potential nuclear countries view fuel production as too difficult and costly an endeavor. They want to fuel their power plants by buying enriched uranium commercially from suppliers in Russia, France, the United States and a consortium that includes Britain, the Netherlands and Germany.

Interest in civilian nuclear energy has flourished in the past two years as countries assess large-scale forecasts for power demands. 17 of the 28 nuclear plants under construction in the world are in Asia. "Why are more countries interested? When the price of oil rises, alternatives begin to make sense ... wind and solar power can't cover their needs. For many, it comes down to practical considerations: When people go home at night, do the lights come on?" said Tariq Rauf, IAEA's verification and security policy chief. The passing of time also plays a role. Long shadows of concern cast by the accidents in 1979 at Three Mile Island and in 1986 at Chernobyl have receded. It is generally agreed that reforms have greatly strengthened safety margins, even if some critics are not yet satisfied.

At the IAEA general conference in September, the Nuclear Threat Initiative, a U.S-based foundation aimed at reducing nuclear risks, pledged $50 million to create a uranium stockpile as a safeguard for countries that choose not to produce their own nuclear fuel. The idea is simple: the fewer countries that produce fuel, the lower the risks. The pledge, backed by CNN founder Ted Turner, former Sen. Sam Nunn and financial adviser Warren Buffett, would allow the IAEA to determine the conditions of access. The fuel bank is one of about six proposals that emerged this year as nuclear nations try to strengthen safety perimeters.

See also :

1. A Second Look at Nuclear Power
2. Asia going nuclear amid rising oil prices, global warming concerns
3. Nuclear power renaissance in Europe
4. Arabs urged to develop nuclear energy

(2006-10-30 23:58:20 SGT) [Energy] Permalink

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