Stichting Laka

Publicatie Laka-bibliotheek:
Pretenders and providers. Why nuclear power doesn't make climate sense (2001)

Auteur	Sherman, Worthington
Datum	maart 2001
Classificatie	6.01.2.16/42 (KE & BROEIKAS - WEL/NIET OPLOSSING + SCENARIO'S)
Voorkant

Abstract

Following its failure to establish itself as a clean, cheap or reliable energy 
source, the global nuclear industry has been in decline worldwide for some years. 
The on-going crises in nuclear waste management and safety and weapons 
proliferation issues have severely undermined the industry's credibility. The
industry is desperately tying to find a rational and justification for renewed 
state support and funding.

South Africa's nuclear power industry, led by monopoly utility Eskom, is currently 
attempting to recast the proposed 'advanced' nuclear reactor- the Pebble Bed· 
Modular Reactor (PBMR) as a global climate saviour, exploiting concerns over global 
warming by misrepresenting itself as a carbon-free electricity source and least cost 
carbon mitigation option. What Eskom and PBMR Ltd refuse to acknowledge is that, 
with or without climate change, nuclear power is simply not economic. With over 
R450 million spent since 1993 and no need for new grid electricity generation 
capacity for at least ten years, motivation also rests on hopes for a large 
international market for PBMR reactors and fuel.

Money being gambled on nuclear power is mostly that of South African taxpayers 
and electricity consumers. It is money thus not available to other priority areas 
such as bringing energy services to all urban and rural communities, developing 
local production of more successful and benign technologies or cleaning up emissions 
from the coal-fired plants. With our long-term sustainable development interests 
at stake, the South African public deserves an open debate, based on information 
rather than speculation.

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