Early warning system to identify nuclear disasters

Ishara MUDUGAMUWA

The Atomic Energy Authority(AEA) functioning under the Power and Energy Ministry will establish an early warning system in a month to respond to nuclear accidents that could increase background radiation levels in Sri Lanka, Power and Energy Minister Patali Champika Ranawaka said.

Participating in a tripartite agreement signing ceremony at the Establishment of Nuclear Accidents at the Power and Energy Ministry yesterday, Minister Ranawaka said when the Fukushima nuclear accident occurred we didn't have enough facilities to measure background radiation levels.

"The AEA has taken measures to establish an early warning system to identify nuclear disasters early," he said.

AEA senior scientific officer Anuruddha Jayalath said nuclear plants provide about six percent of the world's energy and 13-14 percent of the world's electricity.

"India derives 2.6 percent of the total electricity requirement from nuclear power. There are about 436 nuclear plants in the world and the majority are in the USA," he said.

Nineteen nuclear reactors are in operation in India and another four are under construction. Plans are underway to operate another 10 and another 15 has been proposed. Nuclear reactor accidents can occur in India. Though there is no danger of Sri Lanka from nuclear accidents, we should be ready to face incidents. The Disaster Management Centre has identified nuclear accidents as one of the disasters that require preparedness planning at national level as sometimes we have to face unexpected disasters," Jayalath said.

"After a nuclear reactor accident, radioactive fission products are released to the environment and dispersion of radio nuclides are enhanced by the wind speed and direction. The most significant threat is the contamination of the environment through nuclides deposition. AEA has a responsibility to protect people from nuclear danger. The AEA has taken measures to establish a nuclear disaster early warning system. Systems will be established along the coastal belt from west to north facing India in Kalpitiya, Thalaimannar, Delft, Kankesanthurai, Colombo, Galle, Trincomalee and Kandy," he said.

The International Atomic Energy Agency has provided equipment worth 72,000 Euros on a request by AEA. The Memorandum of Understanding related to the tripartite agreement was signed by the AEA, Navy and the Disaster Management Centre.

The Navy has also agreed to provide cooperation and space to establish remote monitoring stations in the Naval Base of Kalpitiya, Thalaimannar, Delft and Kankesanthurai initially. These bases have been identified to detect any increased background radiation levels arising from nuclear accidents that could occur in neighbouring countries.