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Asia Seen as Major Hope for Nuclear Power |
| Source: |
upi.com |
| Source Date: |
Wednesday, June 15, 2011 |
| Focus: |
Electronic and Mobile Government, Citizen Engagement, Internet Governance
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| Created: |
Jun 21, 2011 |
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PARIS, June 15 (UPI) -- Japan's earthquake-triggered nuclear crisis raised apprehensions about nuclear power around the world but it still makes sense for China, an expert says.
The crisis at the Fukushima Daiichi plant comes at a time when the nuclear industry is already facing uncertainties in Europe and the United States, The New York Times says.
In that scenario, the Times says Asia, especially China, may be the industry's last hope.
China, which already has 13 reactor units in operation, is proceeding with plans to build 28 more, while readying for comprehensive inspections and assessments of nuclear plants.
"China should do be doing what it has been doing," Yun Zhou, a Harvard postdoctoral fellow in nuclear security, told the Times in a telephone interview. "With its population, with its economy, China needs to use nuclear power. And it's better for its power security. The key issue is whether it can maintain the safety record."
Yun said China has placed a high priority on safety, "but if you have 70 or 80 plants, that's a different story."
In Europe, even France, the world's most nuclear power dependent nation, seems to have questions about its continued reliance.
A survey this month found about three-quarters of the respondents supporting withdrawal from nuclear power in the next 25 to 30 years, the report said. Only 22 percent supported building new nuclear power stations.
In the United States, President Barack Obama in February had sought $36 billion in federal-loan guarantees for new nuclear reactors, but after the Japan crisis, the president ordered a "comprehensive review of the safety of our domestic nuclear plants," the report said.
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Asia Seen as Major Hope for Nuclear Power Japan's earthquake-triggered nuclear crisis raised apprehensions about nuclear power around the world but it still makes sense for China an expert says
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