Phiraphan pushes for nuke power

Phiraphan pushes for nuke power

Newly appointed Science and Technology Minister Phiraphan Phalusuk has vowed to push for the construction of nuclear power plants in the country.

Mr Phiraphan said he would talk to the public about the planned construction of the nuclear plants and outline the importance of nuclear power as a key source of the world's energy.

He said he would also use all media outlets to promote the government's policy on nuclear power plant construction.

Mr Phiraphan yesterday gave a speech on the government's plans at the Science and Technology Ministry.

He called on ministry officials to help support the government's nuclear power programme.

"We have to accept the fact that we can't get away with not using nuclear energy," he said.

"Even Japan, after its nuclear power plants went into meltdown [after the earthquake and tsunami in March 2011], went back to using nuclear power.

"And in France, there are more than 30 nuclear power plants and I have never heard of any problems resulting from them," he said.

Mr Phiraphan said as far as he knew, most Thai people did not oppose nuclear power in principle, but some had expressed their concerns about the locations of the power plants.

According to the country's Power Development Plan 2010-2030, some 5% of total power generation has to come from nuclear power plants with a capacity of 2,000 megawatts.

Meanwhile, Withoon Permponsacharoen, director of the Mekong Energy and Ecology Network, said he was disappointed by Mr Phiraphan's attempt to push for the construction of nuclear plants.

"We have wasted a lot of money on public relations for nuclear power plants," Mr Withoon said.

"Many developed countries have already moved further to other sources of renewable energy."

He said nuclear PR was a waste of time because most Thai people rejected nuclear power, not because they lacked knowledge of it, but since they knew there are other energy sources.

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