Future Energy Policy

Building More Nuclear Power Plants Is Inevitable

The world will run out of fossil fuels in the not-too distant future. And then what energy sources will we turn to? Countries around the globe are now scrambling to tap alternative energy that is cleaner, eco-friendlier and cheaper. Many have already started to utilize wind power and solar energy, albeit on a limited basis.

It is crucial that South Korea develops new sources of energy, as 96 percent of its energy supply comes from imports. Particularly now, with a new oil shock brewing, the country must overhaul its energy policy in order to reduce its heavy dependence on imports and ensure a stable energy supply. In addition, the government, businesses and consumers must work together to reduce greenhouse gases to combat global warming, especially after the Kyoto Protocol expires in 2012.

Against this backdrop, one can ask: What is the best solution to the energy problem? Undoubtedly, the answer is to develop renewable energy sources. According to a draft plan for the post-Kyoto Protocol era, disclosed Wednesday, the government promised to increase the ratio of renewable energy use gradually to 9 percent by 2030 from a mere 2.3 percent in 2006.

The government has an ambitious plan on mass production of electricity from wind power and solar energy. In addition, it is considering building more nuclear power plants to meet long-term energy needs. It was scheduled to convene a meeting of the Korea Energy Committee to decide on a plan to expand nuclear power generation on Thursday. But the meeting was postponed until August because of the ongoing public protests against the resumption of U.S. beef imports.

It is apparent that the Lee government does not want to add to the protests by pushing for a nuclear energy policy which might result in a further public backlash. Previously, residents of candidate sites for nuclear plants or nuclear waste storage areas strongly opposed the construction of such facilities, invoking the ``not-in-my-backyard'' (NIMBY) mentality. Now, people have to take a bigger picture of the nation's future energy policy and its sustainable and eco-friendly economic development.

Thirty years have passed since the country opened its first nuclear power plant. South Korea is now the world's sixth largest producer of nuclear energy with 20 power plants. Nuclear power generation now accounts for 35.5 percent of the nation's total electricity supply. Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power Co., the state-run operator of the plants, wants to construct 9 to 13 more plants before 2030 to raise the country's dependence to 56-62 percent.

It goes without saying that nuclear power is a cost-effective and clean energy. Thus, it is inevitable for the country to promote the use of nuclear energy, despite environmental worries regarding safe operation and the destructive effects of nuclear waste on nature. Now is the time to build a national consensus on the issue.