Nuclear mattersElBaradei: nuclear still main alternative to oil
Mohamed ElBaradei, former head of the UN International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said that “Today, nuclear power is the only real alternative to fossil fuel as a source of a reliable supply”; he acknowledged that Fukushima represents a potentially significant setback for nuclear power, but said that “Chernobyl and Fukushima should be shown to be aberrations”
The former head of UN atomic agency voiced confidence Sunday in nuclear energy as the only real alternative to oil despite a potential “setback” in the sector due to Japan’s current disaster.
“Today, nuclear power is the only real alternative to fossil fuel as a source of a reliable supply,” said Egyptian Mohamed ElBaradei, speaking at the opening of the Dubai Global Energy Forum.
Channelewsasia reports that ElBaradei, who stepped down as the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency in November, acknowledged that confidence in atomic energy has taken a severe blow after the tsunami-triggered disaster at Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant.
“Fukushima represents a potentially significant setback for nuclear power,” he told participants in the forum, stressing, however, that confidence will be “reestablished in due course.”
The 6-reactor nuclear power plant at Fukushima Daiichi, located 250 kilometers (155 miles) northeast of Tokyo, was hit by a 14-meter (46-foot) tsunami on 11 March, triggering the world’s worst nuclear accident since Chernobyl in 1986.
“Chernobyl and Fukushima should be shown to be aberrations,” he said.
ElBaradei is now a prominent pro-democracy figure in Egypt, and is a potential presidential candidate after protests forced former president Hosni Mubarak to step down after ruling the country for three decades.
