Some questions raised on nuclear programme
After what happened in Japan with the nuclear reactors, the Jordanians who are interested in environment started on facebook and twitter the nuclear debate for Jordan. Energy from nuclear is part of the energy mix as in the national energy strategy prepared 2007. By 2020 Jordan is supposed to have a different energy mix, with a 10% contribution from renewable energy, 14% from oil shale, 7% from nuclear, and the rest comes from further oil and gas local explorations and import.
To date, the energy mixtures have reached different progress levels. Special laws for nuclear and renewables have been adopted, concession agreements for oil shale have been granted. More institutional set ups to make those targets happen...etc.
The questions raised;
Is it safe to have nuclear power plants? Is it expensive to invest in renewables, is it practical? And many more.
I don't have all the answers, and for sure the government doesn’t have a lot of them yet too, however I believe questions should be raised, such as; do we have enough water for the nuclear option? Have we looked at the environmental issues? How about the financing? Does the government need to subsidize for both options? Have we done proper cost benefit analysis for all the options? Have we looked at the timing of each, when will it be available and will that be linked to the expected demand? Will there be enough land available to erect wind mills? And will there be issues concerning noise pollution and biodiversity? Have we looked at the grid and potential added costs for the different options? I am sure many more questions are and can be raised.
Some of the issues, that I know from my previous role, have been partly tackled or yet to be by experts and consultants. I don't see a problem in that. Where I see a problem is in the weak or maybe the lack of proper, institutionalized and organised debates. Where is the right forum institutionally to do that? The government should take the lead to open the debate, in addition to providing regular information for the public.
The only legislation available in Jordan that asks for public participation is the environmental impact assessment bylaw. We need national polices and legislation that encourages more of that.
Previously, two sessions on nuclear were held. One of them was organized by EDAMA, I thank them for that, I enjoyed moderating it. Unfortunately, the Jordanian official focused on the international practice and general benefits of the Nuclear power plants without updating us on the progress and challenges. It would have been more effective in communicating the nuclear policy, where its implementation is so far and the challenges facing it.
To do 1000 MW nuclear, that will also require another 1000 MW as back up according to the officials. Huge financing will be needed, and providing it will be based on many conditions and requirements that I believe some of them will be difficult to be fulfilled. In Finland one nuclear power plant started with around $3 billion budget, it ended up with around $8 billion. NEPCO the national electricity power company expected half a billion JDs for grid upgrade, in addition there projection for the demand on electricity is about 300 MW additional capacities annually, our growth in the demand on electricity is 7.4%. What will happen when we have 1000 MW? Will we be able to use them all? It was mentioned by the relevant authorities that the additional generated electricity will be sold regionally. Will this happen? Have we talked to the potential buyers? if not will it be feasible?
In this brief post I am not trying to have a comprehensive comparison between nuclear and renewable sources, I will have in my next post, however there are key issues such as the time to build renewable energy structures, it can take only few months to build a 100MW Photovoltaic plant, the water use almost negligible, power source is endless as long as we have life on Earth, and in the Jordan we have the best sunlight per m2.
Have we done our homework? Have we really looked at the pros and cons and then formulated a national approach?
I hope we will be (as public) regularly updated on the progress and polices related to that and not just read them as part of small items of the news announcing a signature here and another there.
