'No need to fear nuclear energy'

Executive Director of the Scientific Research Council Dr. Charah Watson says it will take between 10 to 15 years for nuclear energy to be incorporated into the country's energy mix.

 

Speaking at the SRC's 31st annual science and technology conference, she stressed that this is because the country will have to develop the infrastructure and train the human capital necessary to make nuclear energy a reality.

 

In the meantime, Director General of the Hazardous Substance Regulatory Authority, Dr. Cliff Riley, has said there is no need to fear nuclear energy, despite the accidents at Three Mile Island in the USA, Chernobyl in Russia and Fukushima in Japan.

 

He pointed out that Jamaica has been dealing with nuclear energy and hazardous waste for more than 40 years and there have been no accidents. 

 

He said there are currently 474 companies in Jamaica that utilise nuclear 

 

"So far, we have 474 companies in Jamaica that utilise ionizing radiation, you know, your dental facilities, medical diagnostic facilities that do x-rays. We have nuclear medicine facilities here in Jamaica. We have nuclear facilities with research reactors like ICENS (International Centre for Environmental and Nuclear Sciences) and a number of gauges like at our bauxite companies and a number of companies in construction and roadworks," he noted. 

 

He said the Hazardous Substance Regulatory Authority provides the regulatory framework for these activities "to ensure that the proper safety procedures and protocols are implemented across the board to prevent any harm to our people, to our future generations, to the environment". 

 

He was speaking Thursday on Real Business on Power 106 FM.