Sri Lanka’s nuke plans face opposition

Environmentalists oppose Sri Lanka’s plans to set up a nuclear power plant, saying it is too small.

Centre for Environmental Justice spokesman Hemantha Withanage claim that the island country is full of natural sources of energy and that renewable energy sources - such as solar and wind - can meet energy requirements if they are properly managed.

He also warned of dire consequences if the plan goes ahead.

"How a country which struggles to manage ordinary household refuse thinks that it will be able safely to dispose of nuclear waste is a very important question," the BBC quoted Withanage, as saying.

Sri Lanka is aiming to establish the country’s first nuclear power plant within the next 20 years, according to the Minister of Power and Energy Patali Champika Ranawaka.

 Ranawaka had said that the government intends to build the plant to fulfill increasing demands for energy.
A pre-feasibility study is already being conducted by a team of experts from the Ceylon Electricity Board, the Atomic Energy Authority, the University of Moratuwa, and the Geological Survey and Mines Bureau. The team will complete the report in six months after which the feasibility study is scheduled to begin.

Speaking at the recent 54th General Conference of the International Atomic Energy Agency in Vienna, Austria,  Ranawaka explained Sri Lanka’s need for nuclear energy:

“In order to meet our energy demands in the future, we need to feed our base load, as well as increase our spinning reserves to absorb non-conventional renewable energy sources such as wind, solar and mini-hydro,” Ranawaka said. “In meeting these development priorities and plans, Sri Lanka has therefore taken a decision to look into incorporating nuclear power into its energy mix.”