Sivanandan MS asked: Why do some countries favour nuclear energy, while others do not?

Reshmi Kazi replies:

Some countries favour nuclear energy due to following reasons:

• Nuclear energy is a viable, clean and green gas free solution to the ever increasing demand for electricity;
• It is one of the economically most attractive sources of energy;
• Its sustainability can be assured for a long period of time;
• Though the capital and operational cost is high but in the long run the fuel cost is low;
• Even if the uranium cost from which nuclear fuel is to be produced rises, it will not affect the cost of nuclear energy;
• Nuclear fuels can be stored for a long period in a compact space; and
• Nuclear fuel can be transported easily

If other countries do not favour nuclear energy, it is because of following reasons:

• There are huge capital and operational costs involved;
• Nuclear energy generation involves several risks including those of a reactor accident, nuclear proliferation and nuclear terrorism;
• Opponents believe that there are other alternative sources of renewable energy like wind power and solar energy which are developing fast;
• Nuclear power poses many threats to people and the environment including health risks and environmental damage from uranium mining and processing and transport; and
• There also exists the unsolved problem of radioactive nuclear waste