The Hindu Business Line : Nuclear power

This is with reference to "Nuclear power, key to meeting energy needs: US" (Business Line, December 21). A number of articles promoting nuclear energy have appeared in recent times.

Although promoting nuclear energy would suit the private sector, it is likely to create more long-term problems than solutions for the nation.

The unresolved technical problems of nuclear energy, quite a few of which exist, have led to reversal and downsizing of nuclear power programmes in several developed countries and deterred several others from embarking on it.

Several member states of the European Union do not generate nuclear power; Belgium, Germany and Sweden have decided to phase it out.

A comprehensive 2003 study by a team of researchers from Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) observed that nuclear power is not competitive with fossil fuel based electricity and that prospects of nuclear energy are limited because of unresolved problems.

The International Energy Agency projects that the role of nuclear power will progressively decline during 2002-2030.

There is an urgent need to present a more balanced and knowledge-based view of nuclear energy by the media.

S. C. Bhattacharya

Kolkata

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