The true FINANCIAL COSTS of nuclear power – our theme for March 2010

THE VERY SECRET COSTS OF NUCLEAR POWER

Well it is impossible for anyone to estimate the real costs of nuclear power, as only a narrow range of costs are discussed, even where the nuclear industry is supposedly privately owned.

1. The nuclear weapons industry is so connected with nuclear power, and the costs on the nuclear weapons industry are huge.

2. Where the nuclear industry is state owned - e.g. in France, Russia, China, South Korea, taxation, and the costs of electricity are manipulated, and figures given out for nuclear costs are not really reliable.

Secrecy about the nuclear industry is essential anyway, for security reasons. But it is also convenient, as no-one really knows how much it costs for state-owned nuclear facilities to manage nuclear waste. Well, there are ‘cheap’ options used, as we learn from time, with nuclear waste dumping occurring secretly, and without regard for the environment or the people, (usually poor communities, indigenous and rural people.) Eventually someone has to pay for the long-term costs.

Russia: “….The central problem is that the political and heavily militarized economic system of the USSR provided “no way to accurately measure these costs,” even throughout Soviet history, the issue of defense spending was at the heart of civilian-military relations:….much of the data relating to defense industry were not even collected, and when they were, they were not shared with civilian planners and policy makers……..“What is notable is how little substantial new information has been obtained about the defense-industrial complex, even after the collapse of the Soviet government..”….”

.…the near total lack of environmental concerns (as can be seen in the widespread practice of injecting high-level radioactive wastes directly into the ground or dumping fully fueled naval propulsion reactors at sea) would have reduced the cost of production but resulted in a potentially grave environmental legacy, which continues to have serious repercussions for the peoples of the former Soviet Union and, in the case of sea-based disposal, Norway….”..http://www.brookings.edu/projects/archive/nucweapons/appendixd.aspx

China: “…....Southwest China Disposal SiteA temporary storage site for nuclear waste that is capable of handling 1,000 barrels of nuclear waste annually was established in spring 2000 in [earthquake zone] Sichuan Province...” .Spent Fuel Waste Storage/Management

“…..Disposing of the 1000 tonnes per year of radioactive waste produced by the expanding industry is rather a headache but there are plans to expand a small facility in western Gansu province to deal with much of the spent fuel, although there are fears that in fact it will be the poorest areas that are forced to accommodate the waste in some form or another…”.

Energy Balance: Bargain Nuclear Waste Disposal and China Nuclear Power.

South Korea: ” …..Russian and Chinese firms hope to follow the Koreans’ lead. Suddenly the incumbents are confronted by emerging-market “national champions” with the full backing of their governments—an invaluable asset in a high-liability business like nuclear power….” http://www.economist.com/business-finance/displaystory.cfm?story_id=15457220

UK, .Little is known about the cost of the British program as well, although the unit cost of some weapons systems is available.⁷ The continuing restrictions under the Official Secrets Act make it difficult to ascertain costs in truly comprehensive way….

France: The historical costs associated with the French nuclear arsenal are likewise murky…

Too little is known about the arsenals of Israel, India and Pakistan to include them here…http://www.brookings.edu/projects/archive/nucweapons/appendixd.aspx