Asia sticks to nuclear energy amid public fears<\/p>\n
BANGKOK (AFP): Asian nations said on Monday they were
\ncommitted to developing more nuclear power plants but admitted
\nthey would have to overcome public fears surrounding the risks of
\natomic energy.<\/p>\n
At Asia's first forum on nuclear cooperation, Japan, China and
\nSouth Korea said they planned to expand the number of plants in
\ntheir countries to meet growing energy needs.<\/p>\n
And the Philippines, Indonesia and Vietnam confirmed their
\nintentions to embark on nuclear power generation to fuel their
\nhoped-for economic expansion.<\/p>\n
Japan's nuclear program is still recovering from the effects
\nof an accident at a uranium processing plant last year that
\nkilled two workers exposed hundreds of local residents to
\nradiation.<\/p>\n
"It was a big setback. We lost public confidence but we have
\ntaken several measures to overcome that," said Toru Nakahara, an
\nofficial from Japan's Science and Technology Agency.<\/p>\n
Japan's 51 operational reactors produce 35 percent of the
\ncountry's energy needs and officials say this figure will
\nincrease as it cuts down carbon emissions in line with
\ncommitments to international treaties.<\/p>\n
"In order to achieve that goal we believe nuclear power plants
\ncould play a great role," said Nakahara.<\/p>\n
One of the main obstacles to increased use of nuclear power in
\nAsia is the fear that nuclear power poses a major threat to
\npublic safety and that regional governments are not equipped to
\ncope with accidents.<\/p>\n
"We are not allowed to have a serious accident ever again.
\nUnlike the aircraft industry we cannot have an accident every
\nyear," said Qian Jihui representing the UN-sponsored
\nInternational Atomic Energy Agency.<\/p>\n
However, he said he believed that nuclear power would
\nnevertheless enjoy a resurgence due to the seriousness of global
\nwarming and the need to reduce fossil fuel emissions.<\/p>\n
Philippines delegate Filemon Uriarte said the planned
\nintroduction of nuclear power there after 2020 could only be done
\n"after conducting a full-blown information campaign on the merits
\nof nuclear as an energy option."<\/p>\n
Indonesia's stalled nuclear power program, which began in 1965
\nwith the construction of the country's first research reactor in
\nBandung, is still on track to be revived, government officials
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
"Based on demand we could start in 2011. Most probably we
\nwould need six years to complete the reactor. So a decision would
\nhave to be made in 2005 to go ahead," said Bakrie Arbie from the
\nIndonesian Atomic Agency.<\/p>\n
Protests against nuclear power generation are held
\nperiodically around Asia, in a clear sign of popular opposition
\nto the technology.<\/p>\n
In Taiwan on Sunday, some 50,000 anti-nuclear activists defied
\nrains and marched through the capital and southern Kaohsiung city
\nin support of a government decision to scrap a partly built
\nnuclear power plant.<\/p>\n
And on the opening session here Friday of the First Forum for
\nNuclear Cooperation in Asia, a group of protesters confronted
\ndelegates as they arrived.<\/p>\n
Among the demonstrators were two Thai men whose hands were
\nbadly burned in a radiation leak in February, where a piece of
\nradiology equipment was mistakenly given to scrap merchants.<\/p>\n
The leak, which left three people dead, "shows how inefficient
\ngovernments are in handling the results of these accidents," said
\nprotester Ida Arooung. "They keep promoting this technology but
\nthey can't afford to handle it."<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/asia-sticks-to-nuclear-energy-amid-public-fears-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}