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| Sunday, 25 July 2004 |
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Nuclear power highest cost-effective producer by Elmo Leonard The call is out for Sri Lanka to use nuclear energy, a remedy to the high cost energy in the world. This call came from the outgoing chairman, Industrial Association of Sri Lanka (IASL) Cubby Wijetunge in the presence of Finance Minister Dr Sarath Amunugama. Several countries had embarked on nuclear power on a long term basis, a classic example being South Africa, a country with vast coal reserves and significant hydro installations, Wijetunge said at IASL's AGM. Nuclear power is the lowest cost energy producer, and, South Africa has since 1984 included nuclear power in its supply network. Wijetunghe recounted that ESKOM, the South African power company, the seventh largest of its type in the world operates a two reactor facility outside Cape Town, proving to be safe, for over 20 years. "The plant had been faultless and had generated a staggering 81 billion megawatts of power with the consumption of only 7.5 tonnes of Uranium. This nuclear facility is even sited in the middle of a pristine Nature reserve," he said. Wijetunge, a Corporate Manager for Nestle Lanka, told the "Sunday Observer" that nuclear plants have to be safe and bears a deterrent to tampering even from neighbouring nations. Coal is a non-renewable energy source which would become more expensive over time, while hydro power is dependent on the vagaries of weather. Although many would throw their hands up in horror, nuclear energy is the best option, Wijetunge said. |
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