After the Fukushima accident, many countries considered it foolish to promote nuclear power plants.
But once again nuclear energy is being presented as the cleanest and most reliable option. Leaders and representatives of thirty countries are meeting in Brussels, the capital of Belgium.
The objective is to garner support for nuclear energy. Supporters of nuclear energy are claiming that it has become necessary to make full use of this technology to deal with climate change.
After the disaster at Japan’s Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant in 2011, some countries said goodbye to nuclear energy forever. But the Ukraine war, which started in February 2022, has shaken this decision.
International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) chief Rafael Grossi says, “We have to make every possible effort to increase the participation of nuclear energy.” Before the Ukraine war, most of the countries of Europe were dependent on Russia for the supply of oil and gas.
European countries strengthened Moscow economically by importing large quantities of fuel from Russia. Due to this profit, Russia increased its military power manifold and then attacked Ukraine.
For the last two years, European countries have been trying to reduce this dependence, so that they remain economically and strategically independent.
Climate targets and clean energy IAEA Executive Director Fatih Birol argues that “we have no chance of reaching climate targets on time, without nuclear energy.
Renewable energy sources especially solar energy and wind energy will play a big role in providing electricity, but we also need nuclear energy, especially in those countries where there is not much potential for renewable energy. Will private companies in India also do nuclear energy? Investment: At present the amount of electricity generated from nuclear reactors in the entire world is about 10 percent.
France is the largest nuclear energy producing country in Europe.
The share of nuclear energy in the total electricity production there is two-thirds. French President Emmanuel Macron said in Brussels, “We should be more concerned about CO2 emissions because it has a direct impact on your and my health every day.” According to Macron, “Getting rid of coal and gas and nuclear energy And moving towards renewable energy should be our priority” Concerns related to nuclear energy The nuclear power plant accident in Chernobyl, Ukraine in 1986 was barely mentioned during the meeting.
Environmental activists were also opposing nuclear energy near the nuclear plant where the meeting was being held. According to critics, it takes a long time and a lot of money to build a nuclear power plant.
It is difficult to stop radiation in case of an accident. Along with this, disposal of radioactive nuclear waste emanating from here also remains a permanent headache.
Environmental organization ‘Greenpeace’ “Governments should focus on developing renewable energy, saving energy, making housing affordable and public transportation, rather than talking about nuclear power fairy tales,” says Lorelei Limousin. There are currently about 440 nuclear power plants around the world.
America, China, France and Russia are at the top among the countries producing maximum nuclear energy.
India is at number 12, with 23 operational plants and the share of nuclear energy in India’s electricity grid is 3.1 percent. osj/rp (AP, AFP).