The challenges of nucleo-electric

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1 The challenges of nucleo-electric electric generation in Chile Jorge Zanelli CECS-Valdivia Am-Cham 2008 Santiago July 08, 2008

2 NUCLEOELECTRIC WORKING GROUP THE NUCLEOELECTRIC OPTION IN CHILE September 2007 Gobierno de Chile

3 Context: Electric demand doubles every years Over 90% of our oil, gas and coal imported 1997: Gas Natural from Argentina : Drastic shortages of supplied gas Dependence, fragility, vulnerability Search for long term solutions Nuclear Energy?

2005-06-07: Drastic shortages of supplied gas Dependence,

4 PLEDGE FOR A SUSTAINABLE NATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL DEVELOPMENT 1-Enviar al Parlamento, Ley que crea el Ministerio del Medio Ambiente. 2-Crear Superintendencia Ambiental. 3-Enviar al Congreso una Ley Marco de Ordenamiento Territorial. 4-Establecer Sistema de Cuentas Ambientales. 5-Establecer política fiscal para revertir la insustentabilidad ambiental. 6-Ampliar el Fondo Ambiental para investigación n y acción n ambiental. 7-No incluir la opción n nuclear en la política energética nacional. 8-No abrir el país s a los cultivos transgénicos nicos comerciales. 9-Proteger los glaciares, y no aprobar su remoción n y/o destrucción. 10- Establecer un Servicio Nacional de Parques Nacionales. M. Bachelet, presidential candidate November 2005

6-Ampliar el Fondo Ambiental para investigación n y acción n ambiental. 7-No incluir la opción n nuclear en la política energética nacional.

5 PLEDGE FOR A SUSTAINABLE NATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL DEVELOPMENT 1-Enviar al Parlamento, Ley que crea el Ministerio del Medio Ambiente. 2-Crear Superintendencia Ambiental. 3-Enviar al Congreso una Ley Marco de Ordenamiento Territorial. 4-Establecer Sistema de Cuentas Ambientales. 5-Establecer política fiscal para revertir la insustentabilidad ambiental. 6-Ampliar el Fondo Ambiental para investigación n y acción n ambiental. 7- The nuclear option should not be included in the national energy y policy. 8-No abrir el país s a los cultivos transgénicos nicos comerciales. 9-Proteger los glaciares, y no aprobar su remoción n y/o destrucción. 10- Establecer un Servicio Nacional de Parques Nacionales. M. Bachelet, presidential candidate November 2005

6-Ampliar el Fondo Ambiental para investigación n y acción n ambiental. 7- The nuclear option should not be included in the national energy y policy.

6 Public perception of nuclear energy (~2006): Complex, controvertial and emotional issue. Fears, hopes and myths dominated the discussion.

7 Need for rational analysis, based on facts in order to decide whether to include or not the nuclear option as part of the energy mix Long range scope, beyond immediate issues Multidisciplinary independent, team, capable of analyzing and judging freely Working Group on Nuclear Energy (GTNE) 10 professionals with different backgrounds No prior position on the nuclear issue No conflicts of interest Representing only themselves Mission: to decide whether the nuclear option should be discarded or not. If not, how, should the decision be made?

Nuclear Energy (GTNE) 10 professionals with different backgrounds No prior position on the nuclear issue No conflicts of interest

8 Grupo de Trabajo en Nucleoelectricidad Appointed by presidential decree Nº 49 / 2007 (13 march 2007) to assist the Ministry of Mining in: a) Assessing the difficulties and challenges of the nuclear option in Chile b) The analysis of the long term energy scenario to evaluate possible use of nuclear energy c) Identification of instruments needed for a nuclear power program d) Identification of the needs in human resources and institutional reforms

analysis of the long term energy scenario to evaluate possible use of nuclear energy c) Identification of

9 WGNE members Ingrid Antonijević, Economist, entrepreneur, former minister of Trade Ricardo Baeza, Mathematician, Nat. Academy of Sciences, Talca University Carolina Echeverría, Social scientist, Undersecretary of Navy Claudio Gambardella, Attorney, National Energy Commission Pío Infante, Geographer, environmental consultant Alejandro Jadresić, Economist, former minister of Energy, A.Ibáñez University Alejandro Jofré, Mathematical economist, engineer, University of Chile Andrés Stutzin, M.D., Cell Biologist, University of Chile Claudio Tenreiro, Nuclear Physicist, former Director CCHEN, Talca University Jorge Zanelli, Theoretical Physicist, CECS- Valdivia, chairman

Infante, Geographer, environmental consultant Alejandro Jadresić, Economist, former minister of Energy, A.

10 WGNE members Ingrid Antonijević, Economist, entrepreneur, former minister of Trade Ricardo Baeza, Mathematician, Nat. Academy of Sciences, Talca University Carolina Echeverría, Social scientist, Undersecretary of Navy Claudio Gambardella, Attorney, National Energy Commission Pío Infante, Geographer, environmental consultant Alejandro Jadresić, Economist, former minister of Energy, A.Ibáñez University Alejandro Jofré, Mathematical economist, engineer, University of Chile Andrés Stutzin, M.D., Cell Biologist, University of Chile Claudio Tenreiro, Nuclear Physicist, former Director CCHEN, Talca University Jorge Zanelli, Theoretical Physicist, CECS- Valdivia, chairman

11 What is a NEP? What problems does it solve? What problems it does not solve? What new problems it generates? What are the costs? Time scale: decades - centuries How is the country we want our great grand children to inherit? State Role

12 A nuclear power program in Chile? Small, split national electric grid (~10GW) Highly deregulated electric sector The most seismic country in the world Inadequate legal and regulatory infrastructure Insufficient capability for radiological emergencies Weak basis in S+T Insufficient safety cultural consciousness Low public confidence on government institutions Lack of a national long term vision

country in the world Inadequate legal and regulatory infrastructure Insufficient capability for

13 Report March-September 2007 Interviews with over 100 relevant national and international players, from government, the private sector, nuclear industry, academia and civil society. Some 2000 person-hours of discussion Visits to Austria, Germany, USA, Spain, Japan Inputs from France, Canada, Sweden Some 2000 working hours of discussions 30 drafts Pro bono

14 Report structure El nucleo-electric market Nuclear technology Nuclear accidents and incidents Public opinion Environmental and territorial impacts Human health issues Defense, security and development Human resources The role of the State International experience and conclusions Recommendations

impacts Human health issues Defense, security and development Human

15 Main Conclusions 1. Nuclear power generation (NPG) is a mature industry worldwide. It supplies base-load electricity reliably, safely for the people and the environment, at competitive costs, and low in emissions of CO There are no apparent reasons to rule out nuclear energy as an option to consider for our future energy matrix. Seismic territory and waste management are challenges that can be addressed with existing technologies. 3. A nuclear power program is a long term commitment that should be adopted by the society as a whole. It requires strategic decisions and an active government involvement, quite different from the current role of the State, in the evaluation and selection of technological options, in the establishment of a regulatory framework, as a guarantor for the investments, and possibly, as a player in the industry.

2. There are no apparent reasons to rule out nuclear energy as an option to consider for our future energy matrix.

16 4. NPG demands extremely high standards of safety and rigor. Inappropriate standards implies unacceptable risks for the health of the people and for the environment. There is no margin for sloppiness. 5. The current institutional and legal framework is inadequate for the development of a NPG program. The environmental regulations are insufficient to meet the challenges of NPG. Insufficient capability to handle radiological emergencies. 6. The complex present energy scenario requires a decisive boost in R&D on all forms of energy generation, regardless of whether a nuclear power program is adopted or not. 7. The technological challenges of PNE stimulate the development of S+T+I beyond the nuclear industry itself, and offers interesting opportunities for international cooperation and regional integration in trade, education and S+T.

Insufficient capability to handle radiological emergencies. 6.

17 Launching a NPP in Chile would require tackling the following issues: Public acceptance Economic feasibility Adequate regulatory institutions for environmental and operational aspects of the nuclear industry Compatibility with the seismic condition of the country Formation of human resources Establishment of a safety culture Development of a response capability for emergencies The proposed studies aim to identify, gauge and correct weaknesses in these aspects

with the seismic condition of the country Formation of human resources Establishment of a safety culture

18 Chile s strengths Global Competitiveness Ranking (World Economic Forum, 2006) Chile: 27 of 125; 1 st in Latin America Connectivity Index (World Economic Forum, 2006) Chile: 29 of 125; 1 st in Latin America Economic Freedom (The Wall Street Journal, 2006) Chile: 11 of 150; 1 st in Latin America Our weaknesses Quality of education (World Economic Forum, 2006) Chile: 102 th of 125; 13 th in Latin America Income distribution (PNUD, 2006) Chile: 114 th in 126; 14 th in Latin America

Street Journal, 2006) Chile: 11 of 150; 1 st in Latin America Our weaknesses Quality of education (World Economic Forum,

19 NUCLEOELECTRIC WORKING GROUP Preliminary assessment Not a definite tech-doc THE NUCLEOELECTRIC OPTION IN CHILE September 2007 It changed the focus of the debate Less polemic, more analysis More studies are needed No irresponsible steps No time to waste either GOBIERNO DE CHILE The problem is now political Future decisions involve the entire society: Politicians, entrepreneurs, government, academia, civil society,

needed No irresponsible steps No time to waste either GOBIERNO DE CHILE The problem is now political

20 Summary A NP program presents important challenges and opportunities for Chile It will tension our society in an unprecedented form However, the main benefit will not be the enhanced energy supply at a reasonable cost The main benefit will come from the effort we will have to make in order to meet the challenge Thanks.

will not be the enhanced energy supply at a reasonable cost The main benefit

Montevideo, 14 September 2006. Mr. Pablo Mandeville UN Resident Coordinator Resident Representative of UNDP in Uruguay

Montevideo, 14 September 2006. Mr. Pablo Mandeville UN Resident Coordinator Resident Representative of UNDP in Uruguay Montevideo, 14 September 2006 Mr. Pablo Mandeville UN Resident Coordinator Resident Representative of UNDP in Uruguay I have the pleasure of getting in touch with you again to express the support from