Keeping an open mind to options including nuclear

Alternative energy to fuel growth
Nuclear energy can help Brunei meet its modern energy needs, with lower costs and higher reliability that current renewables can provide, a nuclear energy expert said during an energy conference for Brunei yesterday.

Brunei has yet to categorically state that it intends to seriously consider nuclear energy but it has not ruled this out among energy alternatives it is studying to fuel future economic growth and diversification.

Nuclear energy can also assist the country's transition from a hydrocarbon dependent economy in the long term, said David McColl in an interview with The Brunei Times.

"A nuclear Brunei is highly possible, and can be done at a low cost with a small reactor. It makes more sense for a country whose electricity demand is less than 500MW. Nuclear energy will allow for a transition away from natural gas and towards a plentiful source of energy," said McColl.

The research director of Canadian Energy Research Institute (Ceri), an independent, non-profit organisation, made a presentation on nuclear energy options for Brunei during the "Alternative Energy & Energy Efficiency: Fuelling Economic Growth and Diversification in Brunei Darussalam Conference".

The Centre for Strategic and Policy Studies (CSPS) is commissioning energy studies and it is mindful of their particular interest to link Brunei's energy policies to the country's long-term economic aspirations, taking into consideration Brunei's unique geographical context as well as political, social and environmental aspirations.

"In terms of alternative energy sources, the study commissioned by CSPS should be cognisant of the existing data and information of energy sources and should examine all other possible options for Brunei, including hydroelectric, wind, ocean, bio-fuels, solar, nuclear and hydrogen," said Dato Paduka Mohd Alimin Abdul Wahab, acting chairman of CSPS in his welcoming remarks.

"Human ingenuity has already brought us from the coal age to the oil age and to the nuclear age, and Insya Allah, it can surely take us into the next energy era," said Minister of Energy Pehin Datu Singamenteri Colonel (Rtd) Datu Seri Paduka Hj Mohd Yasmin Hj Umar in his keynote speech.

The Minister said alternatives are not just considered as a source of sustainable energy supply, they can be a source of profitability and growth.

"Technological advances in energy are here for us to utilise, and we are keeping an open mind to all options. Oil and gas will remain the major fuel for the next few decades. The transition to sustainable energy future will take time. Technical reliability, social acceptibility and commercial competitiveness will be the keys to the extensive deployment of these new alternative energies," said the Minister.

During the conference held at The Empire Hotel & Country Club, McColl provided an in-depth overview of some of the technological options available for Brunei and explained that large nuclear reactors are ill suited for Brunei from an output and cost-cost perspective whereas smaller reactors make more sense in Brunei from a cost-and-security perspective.

He said contrary to popular misconceptions, nuclear energy is a safe and affordable option for nations such as Brunei. Modern communication technology enables remote operation of small reactors, while a buried reactor reduces security concerns, he added.

"Small reactors are far more affordable and the security issues are very minor. These reactors are buried underground so you don't have any real serious threat from external entities," he told The Brunei Times.

"The only thing that's probably holding us back is perception, which is a generational issue. There's perception of an older generation that nuclear might not be safe and they're very expensive, when in fact its becoming extremely safe and affordable today," he said.

He said the risks grow proportionally; the bigger the reactor, the bigger the risk, and the bigger the impact.

"Heaven forbid, if a worst-case scenario happens, it will have very little impact on the local community primarily because they're so small. And if you build lots of these small reactors whether in one area or spread out, you don't have the risk of causing a chain reaction because they're all separate from one another," he said.

"It's a low likelihood event to say the least, and if it does happen, the population probably would not know what has happened. Out of sight, out of mind," he added.

Of all energy sources, nuclear energy has, perhaps, the lowest impact on the environment, including water, land, habitat, species and air resources, he said. Because it does not emit harmful air pollutants, the use of nuclear energy helps to keep the air clean, preserve the Earth's climate, avoid ground-level ozone formation and prevent acid rain, he added.

"On a life cycle basis with zero gas emissions, nuclear can be even much cleaner than wind and solar," he said.

The Brunei Times