66 Opinion JORDAN BUSINESS AUGUST 2010

Nuclear Energy:
Towards Progress Or Peril?
Nuclear power is set to position itself as part of a mix in
Jordan’s energy strategy for the future. Haya Husseini
questions this option and considers the alternatives.
hen it comes to the issue of nuclear and the US. New generation nuclear power
W energy in Jordan, it’s no surprise
that the subject has taken on a de-
plants are “extraordinarily safe”, scientists
say. Yet no scientist will say there is such a
cidedly defensive tone: Nuclear energy is thing as a 100% safe nuclear plant.
integral to our survival. To say otherwise
is to have no faith in our capabilities as a That it is logical to use readily available
people. There is much to be said about the uranium ore is to bypass the facts sur-
lack of faith in ourselves as a people. But rounding this non-renewable resource dur-
the view that something can be so good so ing the mining process. Uranium mining
as not to be argued is always suspicious. releases radon gas and radioactive dust
BP couldn’t have given us a better exam- that can be blown hundreds of kilometers
ple these last three months. away to populated areas (Swaga, one of missioning can easily fade. Around the
the locations slated for uranium mining, is world, in the meantime, renewable ener-
Proponents of civilian nuclear plants argue an hour south of Amman; another, Khan gy technologies, including smart grids,
that nuclear energy is not dependent on Al Zabib, is 60 km south of Amman’s Sev- are advancing fast and solar-powered
fossil fuels, and is a low carbon emissions enth Circle). Toxic chemicals used for the desalination plants are being built.
technology (therefore “green”). They con- leaching process to extract uranium depos-
tend that nuclear technology has advanced its can contaminate aquifers used for irri- We are assured that the new generation of
in recent years (therefore “very safe”) and gation and human consumption. technology and new design construction,
that we have ample deposits of uranium especially in containment of possible leaks,
to support our ambitions (therefore “logi- That nuclear power is urgently needed in makes them very safe. We are asked to
cal”). Then, they say, there is our need to Jordan to address our energy and water trust that those responsible will take every
secure Jordan’s energy and water demands needs is contentious. Uranium mining and necessary step to ensure the population’s
well into the future (therefore “urgent”). nuclear energy generation are water-inten- safety. In the nuclear industry, especially
sive processes. If urgency is the issue, meth- where nuclear waste disposal is concerned,
That nuclear power replaces the use of fos- ods that do not further deplete our resources the only right way to do things is to do them
sil fuels is true. But to use that to argue that can quickly and cheaply be mobilized. very rigorously and very expensively. We
it is totally “green” is a fallacy. According all know what could happen when a faster
to scientists, the nuclear-fuel cycle has 13 These include instituting energy efficiency or cheaper option presents itself.
complex stages, all except one of which measures across the country that would see
rely heavily on continuous processes that industry regulation towards energy inten- In Jordan, basic environmental and cul-
emit high carbon emissions. sity and carbon emissions, applying strict tural battles have yet to be launched. For
how can the country possibly sell the idea
New generation nuclear power plants are of safety and responsibility in nuclear
“extraordinarily safe”, scientists say. Yet no scientist will power when responsible attitudes to-
say there is such a thing as a 100% safe nuclear plant. wards energy conservation and efficiency
practices are absent, and when transpar-
That the production of nuclear energy is regulations and codes to construction, ency and accountability in many areas
safe is only true if the following is dis- quality solar panel subsidies, education in have rarely been manifested?
counted: the presence of a nuclear reactor water use and vehicle fuel consumption,
may attract sabotage operations and will as well as incentives to curb overuse of Public policy direction towards simpler
require airspace protection. Nuclear waste our energy and water resources. energy and environmental issues reflect a
disposal is highly dangerous, especially great deal about the more complex ones.
while in transit. No adequately safe solu- The high and ongoing costs of nuclear With petrol prices rising fast, and with
tion for waste disposal has yet been found. power, experts say, are likely to demor- our sights set firmly on real progress,
alize a prolonged interest in this nuclear options that are safe, available and clean
To state that no major nuclear leakage di- revival. When compared to the costs should be our main focus. Sun-soaked
saster has occurred in the last five years is to of renewable energy technologies, the and west wind-buffeted Jordan must di-
ignore the numerous accidents, near misses strength of nuclear economics in the rect all its efforts into the dual safeguards
and fallout containments that have recently face of construction, mining, uranium of energy efficiency action plans and re-
taken place across France, the UK, Japan enrichment, waste disposal and decom- newable energy technologies.
This article is strictly the opinion of the author and does not necessarily reflect the views of Jordan Business.