Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Presented by: Bremley W. B. Lyngdoh Columbia University, New York London School of Economics, London
Alternative Space Presentation Shillong, 9th June 2006
Overview
Context: nuclear power and climate change Climate change: sources and impacts Nuclear fuel cycle: energy inputs Core issue of uranium mining Comparisons between nuclear and other energy technologies Alternatives to nuclear power generation Rio Agenda 21 of UNCED 1992 United Nations Millennium Assembly 2000 Supreme Court of India ruling Conclusions and actions World Uranium Hearing 1992
The Principal Scientific adviser to Government of India said, India with 17 per cent of global population consumes only 3 per cent of its energy and the country had to develop alternatives to hydrocarbon-based energy.
The nuclear bomb is the most anti-democratic, antinational, anti-human, outright evil thing that man has ever made. If you are religious, then remember that this bomb is Man's challenge to God. It's worded quite simply: We have the power to destroy everything that You have created. If you're not (religious), then look at it this way. This world of ours is four thousand, six hundred million years old. It could end in an afternoon.
In July 8, 1996, the International Court of Justice said, "The threat or use of nuclear weapons would generally be contrary to the rules of international humanitarian law..." In a situation where a country is breaking international law then the Nuremberg Principles take effect. It basically states that if a country is not following United Nations laws it is every citizen's responsibility to stop its government from breaking these laws.
10
Today, increasing concern in energy policy about options to limit GHG emissions that can cause climate change nuclear power touted as a solution
Emissions of major Greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), nitrous oxide (N2O), Emissions of other greenhouse gases such as hydrofluorocarbons, perfluorocarbons, sulfur hexafluoride Greenhouse gas emissions are due mainly to human activities, although there is a slight role of natural sources Warming is primarily due to carbon dioxide emissions
Warming: Heat waves and periods of unusually warm weather Sea level rise: In Recife, Brazil, shoreline has receded by more than 2.4m/yr since 1985, due to sea level rise and loss of sediment supply) Glaciers melting: Europe's Alpine glaciers have lost half their volume since 1850. US Government predicts no glaciers left in Montana's Glacier National Park by 2030 Human Health: Weather related mortality, infectious disease, decreasing air quality - respiratory illnesses
industrial/manufacturing processes
CO2 is emitted at every stage of the 7 stages of the nuclear fuel cycle
Uranium mining Uranium milling Uranium conversion Enrichment Fabrication into fuel rods Reactor operations Waste disposal
Uranium is usually mined by either surface (open cut) or underground mining techniques and sent to a mill usually located close to the mine. At the mill, uranium ore is crushed and ground to a fine slurry which is leached in sulfuric acid to allow the separation of uranium from the waste rock. It is then recovered from solution and precipitated as uranium oxide (U308) concentrate. Mining and milling operations produce CO2 associated with use of diesel, natural gas & electricity. Uranium mining is one of the most CO2 intensive industrial operations
Uranium and its decay products buried deep in the earth are brought to surface. Radon gas produced in the mine causes lung cancer. Leftover piles of materials or uranium tailings contain over a dozen radioactive materials. There is no perfect storage of these radioactive materials to prevent them from finding their way into the soil, water, plants, animals, fish and humans. According to the latest available facts admitted to by British Nuclear Regulatory Board, there is no such thing as a safe dose of nuclear radiation.
Conversion
Uranium needs to be in form of a gas before it can be enriched, the uranium oxide (U308) is converted into the gas uranium hexafluoride (UF6) at a conversion plant UF6 is then pressurized/cooled to a liquid, drained into 14-ton cylinders where it solidifies, then shipped to an enrichment plant. Conversion operations produce CO2 associated with electricity and diesel for transport to enrichment plant.
Enrichment
Transforming uranium ore into enriched fuel pellets in very energy intensive Enrichment process is principally gaseous diffusion of uranium hexaflouride gas Enrichment operations produce CO2 associated with electricity use. It is the overwhelming majority of the energy input to the nuclear fuel cycle.
Enriched uranium hexafluoride (UF6) is transported to a fuel fabrication plant where it is converted to uranium dioxide (UO2) powder and pressed into small pellets. Fuel is transported to power plants using all major transportation modes (rails, water, trucks) Fuel fabrication produce CO2 emissions through electricity and the diesel fuel used in transport to the fuel fabrication and reactor sites
Fuel fabrication
Reactor Operations
As in fossil-fuel burning electricity generating plants, heat is generated to produce steam to drive a turbine and an electric generator. Reactor operations produce CO2 emissions through routine fossil fuel use in emergency diesel generator testing, diesel fire pump testing, and house heating boiler testing
Enrichment stage
other stages of nuclear fuel cycle (mining, milling, transport, conversion, fabrication, reactor operations)
90%
Source: Oko-Institute for wind, nuclear, hydro; Tellus institute for NGCC
80 60 40 20 0 Nuclear power plants Oil-fired power plants Natural Gas-fired power plants
Source: AEO2003 for NG and Oil, adjusted for fuel cycle, OkoInstitute for nuclear studies
Source: Oko-Institute
Chapter 25 of Agenda 21 on Youth and Sustainable Development: Governments should ensure access for all youth to all types of education, wherever appropriate, providing alternative learning structures, ensure education that reflects the economic and social needs of the youth and incorporates the concepts of environmental awareness and sustainable development.
While addressing the United Nations Millennium Assembly at the United Nations headquarters in New York on September 28, 2000 as Indias Official Youth Ambassador appointed by the Prime Minister as part of the Parliamentary Delegation, I made a call to world leaders gathered in the chamber of the General Assembly to implement Agenda 21 at the national and local level by including young people as equal partners in their decision-making processes.
Nuclear energy cause the release of significant amounts of CO2 Other technologies are available which can provide the same service and at lower CO2 emission levels How to get involved:
Conserve electricity and water resources Join local and national campaigns that say NO to uranium mining and nuclear energy Reach out to the villages and create awareness about dangers of uranium mining and milling Lobby state/central legislation to invest more on renewable energy power generation
Join us!
Provide independent and objective monitoring of human health and the well-being of all living things affected by the nuclear chain.
Further we say:
In view of the unity of humanity and the world, we appeal on behalf of our future generations to use sustainable, renewable and life-enhancing energy alternatives. We call on the whole world, in particular leaders and scientists to share in our vision for peace, harmony and respect for life. Join us!