Thread: Opposition to nuclear reactor project in Nakhon Nayok province

A group of residents of Ongkharak district in Nakhon Nayok province are camping in front of the Thailand Nuclear Technology Institute to oppose the institute’s plan to build a 20-megawatt nuclear reactor on its compound in the district.


The anti-nuclear protesters are demanding a meeting with the executives of the institute on Monday for an explanation about the project and to express their concern over public safety regarding the location of nuclear waste storage.


One of the residents, who are all members of the Khon Rak Nakhon Nayok Natural Heritage citizen’s group, told Thai PBS that the location of the reactor was unsuitable because it is close to the Nakhon Nayok River and is on flat land, which is vulnerable to flooding and is not in compliance with guidelines set by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).


Although two public hearings were held, to allow local people to air their opinions on the project, the resident said that there is a suspicion that the project might not be transparent and the previous two hearings did not involve all stakeholders.


He also pointed to the risk of corruption in the 16 billion baht project, after the previous plan to build a 10 megawatt reactor became tainted with irregularities and was eventually scrapped.


The nuclear reactor is intended for use in medical, agricultural and industrial research.


https://www.thaipbsworld.com/opposit...ayok-province/

what could go wrong?

Nuclear-based energy sources are so unfashionably out dated and long time consciously reprehensible.

Expect a call Dr. Helen Caldicott. [a real and true pioneering environmentalist]

Originally Posted by thaipbs

A Thailand Nuclear Technology Institute ... plan to build a 20-megawatt nuclear reactor on its compound in the district.

That's a very small reactor.

Originally Posted by misskit;thaipbs

The anti-nuclear protesters are demanding a meeting with the executives of the institute on Monday for an explanation about the project

The nuclear reactor is intended for use in medical, agricultural and industrial research. The protestors shoudl read TD, Thaipbsworld, or should have gone to one of the two public hearings.

Originally Posted by thaipbs

and to express their concern over public safety regarding the location of nuclear waste storage.

What did the Institute say about that in the two public hearings?

Originally Posted by thaipbs

One of the residents ... told Thai PBS that the location of the reactor was unsuitable because it is close to the Nakhon Nayok River

That is one of the reasons why they want to build there .. the water will be used for cooling.

Originally Posted by thaipbs

Although two public hearings were held, to allow local people to air their opinions on the project, the resident said that there is a suspicion that the project might not be transparent and the previous two hearings did not involve all stakeholders.

Due to Thai culture?

Originally Posted by thaipbs

He also pointed to the risk of corruption in the 16 billion baht project

In Thailand? Surely not!

You don't expect the government chimps to keep up with the news do you?

Especially when there are cake tins to be had.

Renewable energy is both cheaper and reduces emissions faster than nuclear power – even from existing nuclear sites, according to the World Nuclear Industry Status Report, by French industry consultant Mycle Schneider.
According to the report, new renewables plants built in countries with nuclear generation can compete economically, not just with new nuclear plants, but also with existing facilities.
“The closure of uneconomic reactors will not directly save CO2 emissions but can indirectly save more CO2 than closing a coal-fired plant, if the nuclear plant’s larger saved operating costs are reinvested in efficiency measures or cheap modern renewables that in turn displace more fossil-fuelled generation,” argues Schneider Electric in the report.
Furthermore, renewables coupled with efficiency measures can bolster energy security as well as nuclear power can, the report notes.

https://www.smart-energy.com/renewable-energy/renewable-energy-now-cheaper-reduce-emissions-faster-than-nuclear/

^ Read the OP, Harry. The reactor isn't intended to produce power for electricity generation. It's way too small for that. It's to be a research reactor, so probably for the production of radio isotopes.

Research reactors play an important role in the development of nuclear science and technology. They are used for basic research, radioisotope production, neutron scattering and radiography, and material characterization and testing. They are also important tools of advanced education and training on nuclear technology for energy and other applications.

https://www.iaea.org/topics/research...r-applications

Radioisotopes are isotopes of a chemical element. They have an excess of energy, which they release in the form of radiation. They can occur naturally or be produced artificially, mainly in research reactors and accelerators. Radioisotopes are used in various fields, including nuclear medicine, industry, agriculture and research.

https://www.iaea.org/topics/radioiso...earch-reactors

Originally Posted by Neverna

The reactor isn't intended to produce power for electricity generation. It's way too small for that. It's to be a research reactor, so probably for the production of radio isotopes.

There has been a smaller one over 50 years there for similar purposes. Wondering why now so much fuss about that?

Originally Posted by HuangLao

Nuclear-based energy sources are so unfashionably out dated and long time consciously reprehensible.

Expect a call Dr. Helen Caldicott. [a real and true pioneering environmentalist]

Nuclear power is the most cost effective and cleanest energy in the world. It is by far responsible for the least amount of deaths for an energy source in the world. Its not even close. Hundreds of people die every year in coal mines, in oil drilling operations, in high pressure fracing , in open pit mining , in wind power farms and so on.