Nuclear power idea misplaced and unfortunate

Wilberne Persaud, Guest Columnist

In the wake of the 1973 oil crisis, as is usual among donor countries of the OECD grouping, programmes of assistance were put in place for less-developed countries to respond in ways beneficial to their populations to the extraordinarily high cost of energy.

Jamaica benefited from some of these initiatives and developments. Indeed, a focus was created in the then Ministry of Mining and Energy on the need for energy efficiency, conservation, and in general, for greater attention to the impact of energy choices on the national economy.

I worked with a colleague, a physicist/engineer, to consider how we could reduce energy consumption saving both money and the environment as we went about it.

Big survey

We did a pretty big survey looking at nameplate data, power ratings, and so on, that accompany electrical or energy-using devices.

We also considered practices generally present in our business enterprises. It was a kind of census including information that when coupled with policy with respect to rates per kilowatt, etc, would allow us to find and propose a way forward.

We didn't seem to get very far really - the reports may be gathering dust or may be being eaten by assorted worms.

One of our conversations with interested persons included a discussion in which someone raised the issue of nuclear power. I thought it was a joke.

But the current continuing disaster in Japan resulting from first, an earthquake, subsequently, a tsunami, and finally, the threatening possibility of a full-fledged nuclear meltdown in the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear-power plant, takes me back.

My response to the suggestion that Jamaica consider nuclear power as an option was one of shock. On hearing the idea, I could only think it misplaced and unfortunate.

In response, I declared that if Jamaica should acquire, even as a gift, free of all costs, the facility and opportunity to have a nuclear power plant, my advice to the population would be evacuate immediately, don't wait for the meltdown.

We, at that time in Jamaica, were accustomed to pumps at the Water Commission failing, being out of service for weeks if not months for want of a spare part. Reflecting on what appeared to be part of our culture, routine maintenance was never routine. We fixed when broken.

Yet one thing we know fundamentally is that any man-made device is subject to failure. We know that machines, for proper performance and safety, require scheduled maintenance. Why would anybody assume such a risk? It was my view then and still is now that commissioning a nuclear power plant, even a free one, in Jamaica would be tantamount to a subconscious death wish, or rather, a guaranteed death sentence to the population as a whole.

The United States is advising its nationals in Japan to move at least 50 miles from the distressed nuclear power plant whereas Japanese officials speak of a 12-mile radius, and staying indoors for others.

Predictably simple mistakes

The whole situation is catastrophic and only demonstrates how we humans make what in hindsight appear to be predictably simple mistakes. The facilities were built to withstand big quakes. They did. But a tsunami followed the quake.

The standby generators, installed on low-lying ground, succumbed to the battering power and conductivity created by the tsunami waves and gave out. So to cool the radioactive core becomes difficult. Use of seawater may do the job but the reactor is then dead. That is not really an issue. The real issue is loss of life, or rather, preventing loss of life.

What next? Sure, plant designers now know that an earthquake causes big waves when the sea is near. Why was that not thought of then? We'll never know. The aftermath sees those who don't need to bulk purchase and hoard do exactly that; the Dow and Nikkei begin to tank. Human survival impulses kick in. Rescue volunteers and equipment come from all over the world. Quaddafi vacates the sound and picture stage even as he decides to crush his opposition.

We are fully capable of and do see in responses to the quake the good, the bad, and the ugly. We offer Japan and its people our sympathies and condolences.

When they rebuild, analysis of this failure shall provide improved options. Reconstruction work will provide jobs, the Dow and Nikkei will rebound. What would we have truly learnt?

Wilberne Persaud,  Email: wilbe65@yahoo.com