LISTEN: RAMANA - Nipping the SMRs in the bud . . .

[Oscar]

LISTEN: "Nipping Small Modular (NUCLEAR) Reactors in the bud"
[ http://www.gorilla-radio.com/.../gorill ... -chris.../ ]

Starts at 31 minute mark . . . . M.V. Ramana . . . 30 minutes

In November, 2020, Minister of Natural Resources Seamus O’Regan announced the federal government’s action plan for Small Modular Reactors. The ministers says in a time of climate change, he sees no way to “get to net zero-carbon emissions by 2050 without nuclear power.”

While that’s a hotly debated opinion, no-one doubts the down-sides of atomic power: cost, pollution, and the dangers of reactor meltdowns as seen in Chernobyl and Fukushima.

Professor M. V. Ramana serves as the Simons Chair in Disarmament, Global and Human Security. He is the Director of the Liu Institute for Global Issues at the School of Public Policy and Global Affairs at UBC.

His recent article, ‘Why the Liberals’ Nuclear Power Plan is a Pipe Dream‘ [ https://nuclear-news.net/2020/11/17/sma ... ipe-dream/ ] warns, “small” does not make Modular Reactors less nuclear.

[Oscar]

Small Modular Nuclear Reactors, the nuclear industry’s latest pipe dream.

[ https://nuclear-news.net/2020/11/17/sma ... ipe-dream/ ]

Ramana and Schacherl: Why the Liberals’ nuclear power plan is a pipe dream [ https://ottawacitizen.com/opinion/raman ... tUTBIvAcaI ] M.V. Ramana, Eva Schacherl, Nov 16, 2020

***NUMEROUS INTERNAL LINKS . . . .

Not only is this form of power expensive compared to the alternatives, we still haven’t resolved issues around radioactive contamination and hazardous waste streams.

On Nov. 18, Minister of Natural Resources Seamus O’Regan will announce the federal government’s action plan for small modular nuclear reactors, the nuclear industry’s latest pipe dream.

At least a dozen corporations around the world are hoping for taxpayer funding to further develop their SMR designs, all of which are still on the drawing board. Last month, the federal government handed out $20 million to Terrestrial Energy. Other expectant entities include SNC-Lavalin, which bought Atomic Energy of Canada Ltd.’s CANDU division and is developing a CANDU SMR; United Kingdom-based Moltex Energy; and Seattle-based Ultra Safe Nuclear Corporation.

The Liberal government says it supports small modular reactors to help Canada mitigate climate change. The government is simply barking up the wrong tree, for several reasons: cost, cost and cost, as well as renewables, safety and radioactive waste.

MORE . . . . .