Stories tagged with nuclear
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Thailand going nuclear!
Thailand has approached Japan to help build the kingdom’s first nuclear power plant in an effort to reduce its dependence on coal, oil and gas for power. A 2,000 megawatt nuclear reactor is hoped to be completed in 2020, with a second similar one ready to go online the following year.
Poonpirom Liptapanlop, Thailand’s Energy Minister, made the request to Japan’s Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Toshihiro Nikai this week. Thailand is seeking Japan’s expertise with the operation of the reactor, as well as advice on legislation and staff training. Japan currently has 55 nuclear reactors in operation. Poonpirom said that Thailand wants to reduce its dependence on natural gas, which provides 70 per cent of the country’s power.
“The next three-year period will be our preparation phase, during which we will conduct law-amendment, build technology, and develop human resources, [as well as] a broad nuclear cooperation with Japan,” Poonpiram reported from Japan after his meeting. The Thailand Energy Ministry believes the kingdom will need to double its electricity generation by 2021, and the two planned nuclear reactors should be able to cover 10 per cent of the nation’s energy needs.
Posted by: Andrew on 10 Sep 2008, 06:04