World At Crossroads Over Nuclear Threats, Energy
Pastor Dale Morgan
World At Crossroads Over Nuclear Threats, Energy*
Most of the recent expansion of nuclear power has been in Asia, with
China and India planning massive expansion of their generating capacity
while Japan, Pakistan and South Korea are also planning to expand
nuclear capacity. Countries such as Turkey were also planning to
introduce nuclear programmes while many others, including Argentina,
Bulgaria, Kazakhstan and South Africa, were planning to expand their
existing programmes.
Most of the recent expansion of nuclear power has been in Asia, with
China and India planning massive expansion of their generating capacity
while Japan, Pakistan and South Korea are also planning to expand
nuclear capacity. Countries such as Turkey were also planning to
introduce nuclear programmes while many others, including Argentina,
Bulgaria, Kazakhstan and South Africa, were planning to expand their
existing programmes.
by Nabiha Shahab
Jakarta (AFP) Dec 08, 2006
The world faces a tricky task balancing fears of nuclear proliferation
in Iran and North Korea with fresh interest in atomic power, including
in Asia, to meet energy demands, UN watchdog chief Mohamed ElBaradei
said Friday. With developing countries expected to largely drive a
forecast 53 percent increase in global energy consumption by 2030, there
has been a resurgence of interest in nuclear power to meet this demand,
he said.
"Nuclear energy alone is not a panacea, but it is likely in the near
future to have an increasing role as part of the global energy mix,"
ElBaradei said in a speech at Indonesia's Ministry of Research and
Technology.
With rising industrialisation, he said controlling the spread of nuclear
technology was becoming increasingly difficult as peaceful nuclear
programmes could also be used to produce material for atomic weapons.
"Countries that have such operations are only a short step away from a
nuclear weapons capability," ElBaradei said, adding that the spread of
nuclear technology had increased fears of proliferation.
"At the same time that we are seeing rising expectations for nuclear
power, we are equally witnessing concerns regarding the spread of
nuclear weapons and of sensitive nuclear technology.
"The recent nuclear test by the DPRK (North Korea) and international
concern about the nature of Iran's nuclear programme are two cases in
point," he said.
"In my view, we are at a crossroads. It is essential for all parties to
renew their commitments to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty."
ElBaradei said the pace of disarmament had been too slow, with 27,000
warheads in existence.
"And it is becoming painfully clear that, as long as some countries
place strategic reliance on nuclear weapons as a deterrent, other
countries will be tempted to emulate them. We cannot delude ourselves
into thinking otherwise."
The IAEA head repeated his call for a resumption of negotiations to
resolve the North Korean and Iranian nuclear issues.
"I hope with the six-party talks, or any other channels, that we would
be able to come up with a solution to the North Korean nuclear issue,"
he told a press conference afterwards.
ElBaradei's visit to Indonesia comes as North Korea continues to face
heavy international pressure following its first atomic bomb test on
October 9.
Western nations are also pressing for sanctions against Iran over its
uranium enrichment programme which they fear is part of a drive to build
a nuclear bomb.
ElBaradei said he was "looking forward to the resumption on
negotiations," reitering that "sanctions alone is not a solution" to
Tehran's nuclear drive.
He also repeated his call for a multilateral approach to ensure no one
country has the capability to independently produce sensitive nuclear
material amid increasing interest in atomic energy.
Most of the recent expansion of nuclear power has been in Asia, with
China and India planning massive expansion of their generating capacity
while Japan, Pakistan and South Korea are also planning to expand
nuclear capacity.
"In the near future we may well see additional countries in the
Asia-Pacific region choosing the nuclear power option," he said,
pointing to interest in Indonesia and Vietnam.
Countries such as Turkey were also planning to introduce nuclear
programmes while many others, including Argentina, Bulgaria, Kazakhstan
and South Africa, were planning to expand their existing programmes, he
noted.
related report
IAEA supports Indonesia's nuclear plans
Jakarta (AFP) Dec 08 - The International Atomic Energy Agency Friday
said it supported Indonesia's plans to build nuclear power plants to
address its growing energy needs, despite opposition from environmentalists.
"We are currently supporting Indonesia's preparation for its planned
nuclear power plant construction," Mohamed ElBaradei, head of the global
nuclear watchdog, said in a speech at Indonesia's Ministry of Research
and Technology.
"With its decision to embark on a nuclear power programme, Indonesia is
taking a step to expand its energy mix and energy availability.
"At the IAEA, we stand ready to assist you in finding the solutions that
are best suited to your needs and priorities."
Indonesia's nuclear power plans were shelved in 1997 in the face of
mounting public opposition and the discovery and exploitation of the
large Natuna gas field. But the plans were floated again last year amid
growing power shortages.
Indonesia had previously said it planned to build its first nuclear
power plant, with a capacity of 1,000 megawatts, on densely-populated
Java island by 2015. The government, however, has yet to secure investors.
The province of Gorontalo, on Sulawesi island, is considering developing
a floating nuclear power plant using Russian expertise.
Environmental group Greenpeace criticised ElBaradei's support and said
the plan posed a danger to quake-prone Indonesia and its neighbours.
"By endorsing nuclear energy in Indonesia, Mr ElBaradei is contributing
to growing insecurity in the region," Greenpeace Southeast Asia director
Emmy Halfild said in a statement.
"None of the problems related with nuclear power have been resolved,
such as disposing of radioactive waste and all the associated risks when
placed in an area with a volatile geological structure like Indonesia.
Instead it will only pose danger to the Indonesians and other
countries," she said.
Indonesia is Southeast Asia's only member of the Organisation of
Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), but its oil output has fallen in
recent years to about one million barrels per day amid flagging investment.
Source: Agence France-Presse