Nigeria’s Atomic Energy Commission’s dream – a nightmare for the country

OIL POLITICS: Nigeria’s Nuclear Nightmare , NEXT, By Nnimmo Bassey, September 22, 2011, The Nigerian government appears to be scheming to get deeper into the nuclear mire at a time when the world is inching, albeit slowly, from dirty and dangerous energy sources. The fact that Nigeria has one of the worst electricity supplies in the world, with only about 40% of the population having access to public power supply does not justify toeing the nuclear path. It calls for investing in safe forms of renewable energy production. It also calls for the wastage in the gas and oil fields. Following the Fukushima incident earlier this year the dangers associated with nuclear power generation have again been brought to the front burners. With heightened concerns about the safety of nuclear power plants, it is shocking to see the Nigerian President pushing Nigeria unto the nuclear path. This may appear like a dream come true for the Nigeria Atomic Energy Commission, but this has all the potential of turning into a nightmare for the country.

Having promised to overcome the electricity poverty in Nigeria, the president focus appears to have been captured by nuclear hawks and hawkers. ….

The problem is that apart from the vagaries of nuclear power plant construction, running and decommissioning, the Nigerian context raises unusual risks that should not permit anyone to bring this on at all…..

With all the information on the dangers of gas flares and oil spills, no serious actions are being taken to curtail the spills or to stop the flaring. Even when communities (for example in Ogoniland) are informed that their water is poisoned and capable of causing cancers, government takes no action and allows the people to continue to slake their thirst with poison. Our cities, including Kano and Kaduna have heavily polluted rivers on which people depend; yet they are not told that the water they drink is not potable….

The danger with nuclear power generation actually starts from the mining of uranium and goes right on to the disposal of the wastes. When it comes to maintenance issues, Nigeria’s track record is abysmal. How well have we maintained our existing hydro and thermal power stations?

Nuclear power is neither cheap nor climate neutral. The heavy constructions of the facilities depend on the use of fossil fuels that are release massive amounts of greenhouse gases. Environmental, labour and human rights infringements accompany the uranium extractive processes.

How would the Atomic Energy providers handle nuclear wastes, including wastes from materials used in the nuclear fission process? It is known fact that spent uranium rods have very high levels of toxins and radiation. It is also known that nuclear wastes can be stolen and can fall into the hands of persons who could use them in unexpected, unregulated ways. Another matter relates to cost overruns, political manipulations and corruption of the nuclear sort.

At this time of planetary crises, the direction to go is investment in renewable energy generation. This would safeguard the climate, create sustainable jobs that are not dependent on dangerous destructive extraction and help build the foundations for movement on a green path. Our president certainly does not want to foist a nuclear nightmare on Nigeria.

http://234next.com/csp/cms/sites/Next/Opinion/Columns/5743271-182/oil_politics_nigerias_nuclear_nightmare.csp

September 23, 2011 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | Nigeria, safety

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