Lanka planning for nuclear energy

Ramani Kangaraarachchi

Sri Lanka has to pay attention to nuclear energy in the long a term as its hydropower reserves are fully exploited and power generation from petroleum is expensive, Atomic Energy Authority Chairman Dr Ranjith Wijewardena said.

Speaking on "Nuclear energy- opportunities and challenges for Sri Lanka" at the Annual Sessions 2011 of Sri Lanka Energy Managers Association he said it is often heard that Sri Lanka is a small country and nuclear option is not suitable. "But it will be used in India and the situation is whether the country has nuclear power plants within the territorial limits or not, Sri Lanka will have the same risk. However since the country has to plan its future power requirements there is no harm for Sri Lanka to keep eyes open for future developments in nuclear energy generation," Dr Wijewardena said.

He said Sri Lanka has submitted a request to the International Atomic Energy Agency for a pre-feasibility study on using nuclear power and future direction with regard to nuclear energy for Sri Lanka will depend on the report of the pre-feasibility study.

If it is feasible the country has to set up a Nuclear Energy Planning and Implementation Organization (NEPIO) and it should separate into an independent nuclear power regulatory organization.

The Ceylon Electricity Board has been nominated as the focal point for the pre-feasibility study. Dr Wijewardena said a proper batton change is essential for a such organisation and planning, designing, construction, commissioning, operation and decommissioning of a nuclear plant has an average time frame of a minimum of sixty years.

Invariably several generations should participate in the relay. Estimated human resources requirement would be 500 to 700 national experts engaged in regulation and operation activities of nuclear power.

He said Sri Lanka would witness the coming up of Kudankulam power plants of 4000 megawatts of nuclear power across the Mannar basin in the years to come.

Kudankulan is a place close to the city of Thiruvananathapuram, in India and risks of nuclear power faced by Sri Lanka needs to be assessed.

"However, power is the back bone for economic development in any country today.

As such providing electricity at an affordable price to consumers while minimizing the burden on the tax payer is also the corporate social responsibility of the energy sector," he said.