Nuclear energy has been a taboo subject in the Netherlands. But the debate has been reopened as a result of the urgent problem of CO2 emissions and the increasing dependence on foreign energy sources. Electricity producer EPZ in Borssele, which runs the only commercial nuclear power station in the Netherlands is pleased.
Jos Bongers, managing director of the nuclear power station in Borssele, is rearing to go. If it were up to him, the construction of two new nuclear power stations on the EPZ premises would start tomorrow:
"We've got the space, our staff are very competent people and we can take cooling water from the Westerschelde river. We could even build four new nuclear power stations. That depends on the capacity of each unit."
Mushrooms
Of course, like no other Mr Bongers knows that new nuclear power stations are not going to shoot up like mushrooms. The current government parties has agreed not to take any decision on building new nuclear plants during their term in government. And anyway the procedures for planning permission and handling objections are long. But meanwhile EPZ is not sitting on its hands:
"We are making preparations to apply for planning in the near future. But a new nuclear station will be built between 2015 and 2020 at the earliest."
Not acceptable
Diederik Samson shivers at the thought. The Labour Party MP and nuclear physicist thinks the same about nuclear energy now as he did back in the 1990s when he was campaign leader for Greenpeace. He still opposes nuclear energy in spite of the positive breeze blowing through the nuclear energy camp:
"The nuclear industry has not been sitting still and is working hard. As a result, it is true that nuclear power stations are safer, but they are not yet acceptable as a choice for the future. If nuclear stations did not present the problems of public safety and nuclear waste, the Labour Party would not be against them. But they have not reached that stage yet."
Broader debate
Mr Samson realises that the debate has softened: "Ten years ago the discussion was completely different, both those for and against nuclear energy were entrenched. Now the discussion is broader, with more debate. That's because energy issues are higher on the agenda and nuclear energy has developed."
Mr Putin
Mr Bongers can remember a time when media reports were one-sided to say the least. Newspapers accepted press releases from Greenpeace and other environmental organisations without criticism.
"Now journalists phone us up too, which is nice. Incidentally, A recent survey shows that 55 percent of Dutch people at the moment are positive about the potential of new nuclear energy. After all, it is free of carbon dioxide and makes us independent of Mr Putin. The circumstances and insights have changed greatly.
Even I am surprised about the clear change in opinion in such a short time, let's say in the last three years. Nuclear energy is no longer a taboo as one of the options to satisfy our energy requirements in the future."
*RNW Translation (nc)
Tags: Bossele, CO2 emissions, Diederik Samson, environment, EPZ, Greenpeace, Jos Bongers, nuclear energy