Nuclear power proposed to generate electricity

Nuclear power proposed to generate electricity

2007-10-21 16:29:41
By Peter Mwangu

Nuclear energy is the permanent answer to Tanzania`s ailing electricity that consumes billions of Shillings in purchases from private power plants, a seasoned physicist has advised.

The Director General of the Tanzania Atomic Energy Commission (TAEC), Abraham Nyanda, said recently that adopting nuclear technology is becoming increasingly easier today than before as the plants are no longer massive following the technological advancements.

He said during a five-day regional training session on Advanced Detection equipment jointly held between TAEC and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in Dar es Salaam that despite initial high costs the operations costs are relatively lower than that of thermal or hydropower plants.

Revealed Nyanda: ``One kilogram of Uranium - 235 is enough to operate a 1,000 Megawatts nuclear powered station for an entire year at the current national power needs of only 600 Megawatts.

The surplus 400 Megawatts can be sold to our neighbours to earn foreign exchange.``

The physicist advised policy makers to consider policy changes, commitment and time to solicit for the needed funds for a nuclear project that will place the country at an immense advantage in the longer terms.``Our leaders need to think ahead of 10 to 30 years not just five election years only.

We need a reliable source of energy if we need to develop economically and attract foreign investment to our country. Issues regarding expatriates remain to be a matter of preparations,`` he said.

Uranium and Plutonium, the main raw materials for nuclear technology, are currently under exploration by the Ministry of Energy and Minerals.

He also said that smuggling of nuclear and other radioactive materials in Tanzania is rampant with 12 incidences recorded since 1998 and many undetected because of the conducive geographical position of the country.

* SOURCE: Sunday Observer

Nuclear power proposed to generate electricity