Hello everybody, Im Shien from Temasek Polytechnic and I am
doing a topic on roles of nuclear energy as one of my extra
subjects. I hope to have some feedback on what is on your mind
about the possibility of nuclear energy in Singapore
As the current news about PM Lee considering the nuclear power
option, I have read many forum posts who are not in favor of it. I
have done some research and found that there are advantages to it,
most notably, no pollution and so not contributing to global
warming, as well as very cheap running costs meaning electricity
bills would decrease if used. An example would be France which the
76% of the energy comes from nuclear in which they ship it to
neighbouring countries. Their electricity is also one of the
cheapest in the world.
Also, another factor is that fossil fuels are running out and
the price for it is steadily increasing, furthermore, a possible
future carbon tax would make fossil fuels even more expensive to
use. While some sources state fuel for nuclear energy would only
last for 1-200 years, there are other nuclear technologies such as
breeder reactors that can use uranium for billions of years though
they do have their economic and political drawbacks, notibly that
it uses the same uranium processing as nuclear weapon material.
It also does have serious risks, such as chernobyl incident
where the plant became a radiation spewing volcano and had to be
entombed to stop from radiating the surrounding areas.
Do you think it would be advisable for Singapore to build a
nuclear plant? If no, with further technologies enhancing the
safety, and the advantages at hand, would you reconsider that
possibillity?
Thank you for sharing your views on this topic.
hi, my two cents. (correct me if I am not wrong)
Yes, a lot of other countries are considering this, even our
neighbouring countries. Top of their concern is the rising
oil prices, and the availability of it. As we all may know oil is
not going to last forever, same as valuable resources.
So the focus is on alternate energy sources. Alot of
talk/research is on clean energy like wind, sun, and etc, but to
date, what they are providing are not sufficient/significiant.
(again, pls correct me if I am wrong here.) Hence, option is
Nuclear.
foremost, singapore is geographically challenged to 'house'
this. I do believe we will target some islands to house a
small-scale nuclear reactor and channel the electricity back. And I
don't think a logicial choice will be on main island itself.
secondly, I think when this is implemented, it will create
economic benefits, in that, we may create more jobs (which will
eventually go to FTs), lower price of electricity (which will
increase gradually when govt decides to privatise it like our
current model). so lots of +/- here.
One option is to "buy" these from neighbours when they build
their reactors. but given the complexitiy of our foreign policies
(water, untreated water and etc), it may not be the best way
forward.
As per our former PM has shared, we are the three "K". Kiasu,
Kiasi and kia-bo.
the 2nd K, Kiasi or scare-die,
now, I think technically/scientifically, we have progressed from
chernobyl and such incidents/accidents should not happen.
one qn, is nuclear waste now recycleable? (maybe TS can answer
given his research). I don't think 100% will be recycle, so what
happens to the un-recycleable waste? and the cost of
this?