NEI Nuclear Notes

Here’s a bit of news that might seem unusual at first: {…} Chile and the United States signed an accord on Friday intended to help Chile develop a nuclear energy program. Chile, a country that imports much of its energy, is considering building nuclear reactors to try to fill an expected energy gap in the next few decades. But the developing nuclear crisis in Japan has complicated the debate in Chile, which suffered an 8.8-magnitude earthquake last year that caused widespread destruction. That may be more a question of timing. There are compelling reasons to proceed: Chilean officials are concerned that limits on the amount of energy the country may import and its outdated power grid will compromise the rapid growth of its economy. Chile will require a doubling of its energy supplies over the next 12 years if demand for electricity continues to grow at 6 percent a year, said Jorge Zanelli, a physicist who carried out a study of nuclear energy in 2007 for the previous ...

A few quick hits. New or newish to the nuclear party – Chile Chile will send 30 professionals abroad to fine-tune their knowledge and expertise in nuclear energy, which is an integral part of government plans to someday decide on building an energy-producing nuclear power plant, the nation's president said Wednesday. The Chileans are moving at a deliberate pace – might be something in the national character, as some other countries want their plants up and running now . "Chile has to prepare itself for the world of nuclear energy...The decision won't be made now, not even during our government. But our government has the obligation to prepare our engineers, scientists and technical workers," [President Sebatian] Pinera said, while on tour in Paris, his first official visit to Europe. It does take awhile, but the Yellow Brick Road does eventually get to the Emerald City. --- Sri Lanka : The Sri Lankan government is planning to establish a nu...