Nuclear power for Malta? Not a bad thing says Labour MP

Labour MP Luciano Busuttil believes that it would not be a "bad thing" to explore the possibility of utilising nuclear energy to generate power, in the wake of the costs involved to power up the country using Heavy Fuel Oil, and the expensive involved in alternative energies.

Expressing his personal view on a story revealed by MaltaToday last Sunday, which reported how French scientists are modelling a small, submerged nuclear power plant on the energy needs of an island state like Malta, the Hamrun MP said that it is a fact that nuclear energy already exists is Europe, and France -also a Mediterranean country - generates almost 80% of its power using nuclear energy.

"It is a reality and it exists around us. The only problem with nuclear power lies in the disposal of its toxic waste; but in view of the rising cost of oil and alternative energy strategies, it would not be a bad thing to look into nuclear power as another alternative," Busuttil said, adding that with the existence of plants in France, a fallout would affect Malta anyway: just like Chernobyl affected Europe in 1985, and last year's Fukushima toxic cloud travelled as far as the United Kingdom from Japan.

Referring to MaltaToday's revelation that French state-owned company DCNS is currently looking into whether standardised nuclear plants, roughly the size and shape of submarines, and much cheaper to install than regular plants, could safely operate in the sea and supply power to land via underwater cables, the Labour MP said: "My personal opinion is that we should not discard the possibility of looking at this...if this is done in international waters, why don't we look at possibly tapping into its grid?" he asked.

Busuttil said that all this however must take into context all the  necessary safety and precautionary measures.

The experimental platform has been called 'Flexblue' and according to Andre Kolmayer, head of DCNS's civilian nuclear business unit, DCNS is looking at Malta, Cyprus and Morocco as "typical markets" the scientists are looking at for the project.

Kolmayer however noted that DCNS had received no mark of interest yet.

Asked by MaltaToday whether DCNS had made any formal approach to the Maltese government, Enemalta, or any other private organisation in Malta regarding the submerged nuclear power plant, DCNS chief spokesman Emmanuel Gaudez was non committal.

His remarks were later limited to a written reply by email penned by another spokesperson identified as Virginie Lemière, which said that "this concept had to be validated by a series of studies to be completed over the coming two years.

"So, currently, DCNS is still carrying out those studies that will help DCNS to make a decision at the beginning of 2013."

Lemière added: "We'll keep you informed as soon as we'll get news about the project."

The Maltese government has meanwhile denied having "any contact" so far with DCNS. Neither Enemalta have had any contact.

The company aims to capitalise on renewed global interest in atomic power in the face of surging oil prices and growing concern over climate-warming carbon emissions from power plants.

"The facility's technology cannot be used for military purposes," said Kolmayer, who sees Flexblue as less vulnerable to terror attacks and natural disasters than plants on land.

He said security issues were at the heart of DCNS's studies. The water depth would protect the units against a plane crash, thunder or a tsunami, and a metal net would protect them by making a torpedo explode at a distance.

"Going that deep is not within the reach of everyone, so they (terrorist groups) would need to have quasi-military means,"

Kolmayer said, adding that should the unit be hit, a security option would mean the reactor compartment is flooded with water.

"Water extinguishes everything," he said.

He estimated the global market for Flexblue at between 100 and 300 units, depending on the price, which DCNS puts anywhere from €100 million to €1 billion.