To B or Not to B(NPP)

     Hola readers and fellow bloggers! The iBloggers are back to talk about another expedition. Right after we went to the Pawikan Conservation Center (PCC) we drove for eight minutes to the Bataan Nuclear Power Plant (BNPP). Here we learned about nuclear power. But, what is nuclear power?

     Nuclear energy usually means the part of the energy of an atomic nucleus, which can be released by fusion or fission or radioactive decay. Nuclear power is any nuclear technology designed to extract usable energy from atomic nuclei via controlled nuclear reaction. In nuclear power plants, uranium goes through nuclear fission in order to produce nuclear energy.

     Now, what are the advantages of nuclear energy? Well, one advantage is that it produces less pollution. Burning coal creates carbon dioxide (CO2) which causes global warming and the depletion of the ozone layer. Creating nuclear energy on the other hand produces only 1/3 CO2/ kWatt as compared to coal. Uranium, though not really "carbon-free," does produce less pollution than regular fuel. Soft coal has sulfur, and sulfur mixes with rain water which creates acid rain. Coal-fired power plants produce more radiation.

The BNPP

     Another advantage is that nuclear power is one of the safest methods of producing energy. Each year, 10,000 to 50,000 Americans die from respiratory diseases due to the burning of coal, and 300 are killed in mining and transportation accidents. In contrast, no Americans have died or been seriously injured because of a reactor accident or radiation exposure from American nuclear power plants. 


     Also, nuclear power is very reliable. It is impossible to make a high amount of energy from a single coal- fired power plant. Nuclear power plants need little fuel. This means that they are less vulnerable to shortages because of strikes or natural disasters. Did you know that nuclear power plants can sustain operation for two years without taking on a fresh supply of fuel?

      Although there are many advantages, there are also lots of disadvantages. One is that nuclear power is not a sustainable source of energy. The world's supply of Uranium will only last for at least 200 years. Uranium, a non- renewable energy source is also not a local fuel. Most of the world's Uranium mines are found in Kazakhstan, Canada and Australia.

Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant

     Another disadvantage is that nuclear power plants take 20 to 30 years to build, yet, it is still impossible to build one that is 100% safe. Devastating events such as those that occurred in the Three Mile Island (1979), Chernobyl (1986) and Fukushima (2011) show that even with strictest quality control, accidents can still happen.

     Accidents involving nuclear power plants are the worst kind since they produce radiation. Massive exposure to radiation can cause immediate death. The other major effects include cancer, radiation sickness and genetic mutation. The worst nuclear disaster was a meltdown in 1986 at the Chernobyl facility in the Ukraine. An explosion and fire ripped apart the casing of the core, releasing large quantities of radioactive isotopes into the atmosphere which spread over much of Western USSR and Europe. Thirty-one people died as an immediate result. According to Chernobyl, a Russian publication, 985,000 premature cancer deaths occurred worldwide between 1986 and 2004 as a result of radioactive contamination from Chernobyl. Plants and animals within 6 km of the nuclear plant also died. Twenty-five years later, animals as far as Germany and Norway still tested positive for radiation from the Chernobyl meltdown. 

Effects of the Chernobyl radiation

     The cleanups for these accidents are also very expensive. The Chernobyl meltdown clean-up involved 500,000 workers and cost an estimated 18 billion rubles (around $600 million), which crippled the Soviet economy. The Three Mile Island cleanup started in August 1979 and officially ended in December 1993, with a total cleanup cost of about $1 billion. A private think tank says the accident at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant could cost Japan up to 250 billion dollars over the next 10 years.

      The disposal of highly toxic and radioactive nuclear wastes can also pose problems. The byproducts of the fissioning of uranium-235 remains radioactive for thousands of years. This requires safe disposal away from society until they lose their significant radiation values. Many underground sites were constructed, only to be filled within months. Storage facilities are not sufficient to store the world’s nuclear waste, which limits the amount of nuclear fuel that can be used per year. Transportation of the waste is risky, since many unknown variables may affect the containment vessels. If one of these vessels were compromised, the results may be deadly.

     Weighing the advantages and disadvantages of using nuclear energy, we think that harnessing energy from nuclear reaction is not the solution to the world's energy needs. Although it is be a very efficient and powerful way of producing energy, it is still dangerous, risky and expensive. The Fukushima accident shows that even the most advanced economy cannot master nuclear safety. We believe that in choosing our energy pathways, we should prioritize our environment and people's health, safety and security.

     We believe that other energy sources should be considered, particularly renewable form of energy. In 2008, the world's energy supply by power source was oil 33.5%, coal 26.8%, gas 20.8% (fossil 81%), renewable (hydro, solar, wind, geothermal power and biofuels) 12.9%, nuclear 5.8% and other 4%. Oil and coal combined represented over 60% of the world energy supply but, renewable energy source was more than that of nuclear energy. In our opinion, renewable energy is the answer to the world's long-term energy needs.

To switch or not to switch?

     Now, let's talk about our trip to the BNPP. We were very curious and excited to get a glimpse of what's inside the controversial BNPP. For most of us, we were most fascinated by the control room which contained over a hundred different buttons that controlled the entire BNPP. Some of our friends were trying to find the main power switch that would turn on this nuclear power plant.


     We listened earnestly as the officials of the National Power Corporation (NPC) talk about the history of the BNPP. According to them, President Corazon Aquino decided not to open the BNPP in 1986  because that was also the same year when the accident at Chernobyl happened. They also lectured us about the advantages and disadvantages of opening the BNPP. BNPP officials claimed that they are very capable of operating the said nuclear power plant and that all they needed were funds and improved facilities. Hmmm...our two cents' worth? Channel the funds and improved facilities instead in harnessing and developing renewable sources of energy.


GO GREEN! And with that, the iBloggers would sign out for now, til next time!