JET calls for public discussion on plans to explore nuclear energy

By Kimone Witter    

 

Local lobby group Jamaica Environment Trust is urging a transparent process as the country moves toward adopting nuclear energy as an alterative source of electricity.

 

Last week, the government signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Canadian firms to explore nuclear energy.

 

Prime Minister Andrew Holness emphasised that it was not just a symbolic signing, but a step towards embracing advanced technology for Jamaica's economic growth.

 

Nuclear energy is sometimes referred to as a clean energy technology as it produces nearly zero carbon dioxide or other greenhouse gas emissions.

 

It also avoids producing air pollutants that are often associated with burning fossil fuels for energy.

 

But, Chief Executive Officer of JET, Dr. Theresa Rodriguez-Moodie, is arguing that there are several questions to be answered, including the risks of producing nuclear energy, about which the government should hold meaningful public discussions. 

 

"Why do we even argue that, oh, it's just an MOU, and it doesn't mean anything? An MOU is the starting point for a lot of things, and so we need to make sure that this is a discussion that is not taking place behind closed doors, and that because of the nature of this type of project, the nature of the impacts, that the public needs to be properly engaged. And by engagement, I'm not meaning, we have a couple meetings and we invite some stakeholders to check a box and we say, oh, we have consulted. I mean, meaningful engagement, making sure that how you deliver, how you explain is properly understood," she suggested while speaking Tuesday on TVJ's Smile Jamaica.

 

Jamaica houses the Caribbean's first and only nuclear reactor at The University of the West Indies, Mona campus.

 

The SLOWPOKE-2 research reactor, designed by the Atomic Energy of Canada Limited, is primarily used for neutron activation analysis of trace elements in studies related to health, the environment and agriculture as well as in education and training. 

 

Dr. Rodriguez-Moodie is recommending that the country invest in renewable energy sources that are already available to reduce its dependence on fossil fuels. 

 

"The fact is, we know that there are other types of renewable energy. There's solar, there's wind, there's hydro. Yes, there are issues associated with those types of energy, but why are we suddenly kind of migrating from that to focus on nuclear energy, which is riskier, costlier... and is really still in infant stage, if you think about it? If we are thinking about moving away from emissions, cutting emissions and really thinking about climate change as a driver for this move, then we really need to be investing in options that are already available," insisted the environmentalist.