Nuclear energy here - an open option

by Manjula FERNANDO

Power and Energy Minister Patali Champika Ranawaka said that the plan to use nuclear energy to generate power by 2025 was still an open option in Sri Lanka.

He said it would be unwise to abandon the proposal completely following the mishap in Fukushima as safer technology may be evolved by 2025.

"There will be safer technology to deal with nuclear power by then or the whole world would decide to shut down all nuclear plants," he said adding that the country should be ready to meet its growing demand keeping in mind that fossil fuel would be exhausted one day.

"Even with nuclear power, large hydro and thermal power, there would be a shortfall in meeting the demand by 2050. The projections are that there will be a 10 terawatt shortfall by 2050." According to the Minister, the country's maximum power consumption stands at 13.6 terawatts at present. It has been estimated that by 2050 this would rise to 30 terawatts. Sri Lanka must generate another 16 terawatts to meet this demand.

"I will be the happiest man if we can meet our demand without the use of nuclear energy. The nuclear fission using uranium is a very hi-tech operation and highly dangerous in the event of accidents as was seen in Fukushima."

"Everyone knows its limitations, but we have to study this and have it as an option. "

The Minister said that even today the country cannot claim to be 100 percent safe from the nuclear threat since India has 17 reactors in its territory and some of them are very close to Sri Lanka.