David Parker: Nuclear power too expensive and too risky

Energy Minister David Parker outlines the Government's position on the nuclear debate.

The Government is committed to New Zealand being a nuclear-free zone and this includes a policy of no nuclear power stations.

Our nuclear-free stance goes back several decades and is a position that we are proud of.

But it is wrong to think that this position is simply ideological. It also comes down to economics, logistics and safety.

Nuclear power would likely be twice as expensive as some other sources of electricity generation in New Zealand, including renewable generation.

In New Zealand's market system, it is unlikely that a generation company would countenance taking these costs on when there are cheaper alternatives.

The capital cost of building wind generation is at present under $2000 per kW. The costs for nuclear energy vary considerably. Some suggest nuclear power plants could cost as much as $9000 per kW (Source: Ministry of Economic Development).

In addition, there is no nuclear power infrastructure in New Zealand, including safety auditors, service people and nuclear engineers.

Creating that infrastructure would require a nuclear industry, which would itself be expensive.

These cost estimates do not include allowances for resource consenting, and establishing a nuclear industry and a regulatory framework.

It is essential that electricity generation in New Zealand fits our needs and it seems clear that the present nuclear technology is not suitable.

There are also serious safety issues that need to be considered.

The large catastrophic failure at Chernobyl in 1986 is a stark example of the destruction and the risks of nuclear power when things go wrong.

There have also been smaller leaks and accidents in Japan in 1999 and at Sellafield in Britain.

There are also risks in safely transporting and storing nuclear waste, which remains dangerously radioactive for hundreds of years.

In addition, terrorism poses a threat to nuclear power plants.

Nuclear energy is clearly an option for other countries that have bigger populations and do not have access to alternative generation sources as we do.

In my view, nuclear power need not be considered further at present because we have safer, cheaper and more environmentally friendly alternatives.

- OTAGO DAILY TIMES