Alay,
I'll try to answer your questions below.
Questions relevant to the above issues could be asked like the following:
1. How sure we are that the environment is well protected. Are we prepared to live like what happened in Chernovyl, where the whole city within the 50-km radius from the reactor is totally abandoned because of exposed radiation? All the reactors in that place are now shut down because this nuclear station is no longer viable for operation. If we look at the cost-benefit ratio of the project it is already beyond the ideal level.
Reply:
We are very sure that the environment will be protected because the technology comes from Westinghouse Inc. Chernobyl is different because the accident happened when the Soviet Union can no longer afford at that time to maintain the plant. Their economy was bankrupt. With the demised of the Soviet Union the Russian Federation as what they are called now is reviving their expertise in making nuclear plant. As we speak they are now selling and building the Iranian nuclear plant.
2. How about the residents proximate to the location of BNPP, are they willing to be dislocated with their livelihood and businesses in case untoward incident happens, like radiation leaks?
Reply:
The BNPP was constructed away from the residential areas and even if there are people nearby, what's there to be afraid of? The plant is not a ticking bomb. This is what happened to us when we listen too much to the staunch critics of nuclear plants. They talked as if the plant is a bomb. In the 1950's up to the 60's people in the Pacific Islands was exposed the open explosion of a nuclear device. In Australia the British tested their nuclear bombs openly in the desert and there is no report of a nuclear radiation affecting the people. This BNPP is not a bomb but a plant. The danger of a fallout is very remote.
3. From what source do we extract uranium to feed the reactors? Are these sources available locally or for import. How much? (This figure is needed for power distruibution price analysis). Is there any tendency that our government be under the mercy of the uranium suppliers if in case they would then create a supply monopoly?
Reply:
The mining and export of uranium is regulated by IAEA. Uranium ores come cheap from Australia, Russia and some African countries. There is no danger that we are at the mercy of some suppliers because this is regulated by IAEA.
4. Is it really cheaper to buy power from this source? I read from an article in the Inquirer that despite of the 50+ nuclear reactors Japan has, buying power from this source is still higher compared to other sources. (TB membrs from Japan please confirm this report please.)
Reply:
Nuclear power is much cheaper to operate but expensive to build. BPNN is already finished and it cost the Filipino people $10 billion dollars to build and it just lay there inoperable because of politics. Last night Gordon Brown the Prime Minister of England specified in his speech that nuclear energy is the best alternative to oil and coal for a much much cleaner environment.
WN
Linkback:
https://tubagbohol.mikeligalig.com/index.php?topic=18222.0