Madam, - It is difficult to see how nuclear power will make a significant contribution to a low-carbon strategy for the world.
Electricity demand is due to increase by 50 per cent in the next 25 years. Twenty-five new reactors are being built at present, with 76 more planned. There are also proposals for another 162 and there is doubt as to how many of these will be built.
There are at present about 429 reactors operating worldwide today and many of these are approaching the end of their operating life and will need to be replaced soon.
If nuclear power is going to make any useful contribution to global carbon reduction over the next two or three decades, the industry will need to construct nearly 3,000 reactors, or one a week for 60 years. This is not going to happen and the history of the industry does not give any grounds for optimism.
By following the nuclear myth we will waste resources and precious time. We will also increase the spread of nuclear materials and the opportunities for nuclear terrorism. We probably do not have to worry too much about uranium resources as there is unlikely to be a nuclear programme big enough to risk exhausting them. - Yours, etc,
NICK ARMSTRONG, Pine Copse Road, Dundrum, Dublin 16.