‘Ban on nuclear energy could cause crisis’

Press, 30 July 1986, Page 51

‘Ban on nuclear energy could cause crisis’

NZPA-Reuter London Britain’s Secretary for Energy, Mr Peter Walker, has forecast a gigantic energy crisis for the Europeah Community if it decides to ban nuclear energy. In an address to the Engineering Employers’ Federation, Mr Walker said mankind would either continue with nuclear energy or risk "leaving to our children and grandchildren a world in deep and irreversible decline.” “If the Community banned nuclear power it would have to increase its use of alternative fuels in 1986 by about three million barrels -of oil daily, a figure greater than the whole of United Kingdom oil production,” he said.

Daily United Kingdom output is more than 2>/ 2 million barrels.

The challenges of nuclear energy could be met, though after the Chernobyl nuclear disas-

ter it was easy for politicians to say this form of danger to life must be eradicated:

“This may well bring immediate short-term political popularity from those who would like to believe that the energy they require to maintain their jobs and their standard of living will be forthcoming from other means that are safe and are available.”

But there was no way of meeting the world’s future energy needs without a substantial contribution from nuclear power. The world’s proved 1 oil reserves would run out between 2040 and 2065, the world’s gas would run out between 2056 and 2066 and coal between 2066 and 2076.

As prices for finite forms of energy soared in the event of an end to nuclear energy, the Third World would suffer the most because only richer countries could afford higher prices.