Toward Post-Fukushima No. 15

15. NUCLEAR GENERATION ADVANTAGES REMAINJose Ramon Torralbo Estrada
Plant Manager, Santa Maria de Garoña NPP Spain

Nuclear Industry: Advanced Technology
Nuclear power plants worldwide have beensilentlyfunctioning

successfully,

generating•Technological development, safety
improvements and risk reduction•Greater reliability than that offered by otherelectricity 24 hours a day practically year round,types

and contributing to the operation of our industries

supply)and to the welfare of humanity. This high level of•Cost optimization, competitivenessofelectricalgeneration(guaranteedperformance, achieved throughout the years, is due
to various factors intrinsic to this technology:•External factors:•Independence of fossil fuels•Improvement of the rugged design of the plants•No emission of greenhouse gases

over the years.

•Important socio-economic impact of the nuclear• Increased experience and knowledge of theindustry in the current economic situation.

technicians who manage and operate theplants.

World public opinion demands new answers after•An ongoing exchange of information amongst

Fukushima.

plants all over the world.

energy experts, institutions, etc., should listen and･ Continuous

monitoringof the plants byregulatory bodies as well as by national andThe

nuclearindustry,scientists,contribute to full capacity in order to respond to thenew situation.

international experts.

What Happened in Fukushima?
Because of this, nuclear energy has become a key

The accident which took place at Fukushima wascomponent in the generation mix of developed

duetoacombination

ofextreme

naturalcountries.

phenomena. The forces of nature were so strongthat they have shaken one of the most advanced

Reasons for Nuclear Electrical Generation
before Fukushima

countries in the planet. The intensity of theThe image of nuclear energy in most countries

the plant was designed. Because of this, thehas improved substantially in recent years due to:multiple alternatives which the plant had tonatural phenomena exceeded the values for which

comply with the established security safeguards• Specifictechnology:
1factors

associatedwithnuclear

were insufficient. The required external support
was also affected by the same natural phenomena.
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Toward Post-Fukushima No. 15

Plant technicians worked courageously andprofessionally,

underextreme

conditions

such as Germany’s decision to return to theandsituation which existed before the Angela Merkel

during several days, in order to maintain the safetycoalition government agreements. More balancedof their reactors, thus alleviating the serious

positions have been taken by the majority ofsituation faced by them. They used all theEuropean countries. Plant design margins will beknowledge, experience and means available. I

analyzed in order to continue operating, taking

know for a fact, that while they were doing this,

into consideration the extreme natural phenomena

they were conscious and suffering due to the pain

which occurred in Japan. In Spain, according toof the nearby population and their families affectedinternational practices, plants have verified theirby the earthquake.

readiness to cope with extreme conditions which
could occur in each of their specific locations.

Emergency plans which had been prepared for

Presently, Spanish power plants are conducting athese situations in order to evacuate the nearby

thorough review of its margins to continue

population, functioned as they were supposed to.

operating under conditions way beyond their

The exemplary and responsible attitude of thedesign basis.

Japanese people still impresses us. It is now one ofthe priorities to do everything possible in order for

In short, the industry has responded andthose affected to gradually return to their normal

confirmed the validity of the safety measures

lifestyle.

under the established hypothesis. From this review
of current margins, new improvements will bereached for enhanced security under unforeseen

And Now, What?
Therearenumerous

questionsforthescenarios. The need for regulation will once moreinternational nuclear community: What do we do

be increased in order to take these new situations

now? Can we keep nuclear power plants all over

into

the world functioning? Can the existing regulation

throughout countries. Steps are being taken in

be trusted? Should people in other countries alsoorder to maintain the trust that society has inworry? Answers must be clear, precise andnuclear technology.

account,

tryingtoachieve

consistency

understood by all citizens. All of those involved,
whether technicians, businesses, regulatory bodies,public and private institutions or the media, must
provide information, each in their own field.

Advantages of the Nuclear Generation are
Maintained
Reasonsformaintaining

nuclearelectric

generation have not changed. Safety will be
Although the situation took place in a very

reinforced with new modifications. It will be

specific area of the planet, its impact has beenstrictly

regulated

global and reactions have reached all countries, nocountries. Reliability, environmental friendliness,matter how far they were from the affected zone. It

supplymust be stated, that political opinion toward thiscompetitiveness,

type of energy has also influenced decisions madetechnological development are still very solidby each country.

reasons.

guarantee,andstandardized

fossilfuel

economic

amongstindependence,
growthandIn Europe, extreme positions have been adopted,

2

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Toward Post-Fukushima No. 15

The pending issue is now to communicate andPrecise, Clear Communication; Key in thisNew Stage

clearly explain this new situation as well as toAccidents are recorded by society in many areas

remind society of the ongoing commitment to(roads, aviation, etc.) but the perception of risk

safety that all of us who work in this industry have.

does not exist. Fewer accidents are recorded in theWe must be capable of answering any and all

nuclear field yet the perception of risk is higher.

questions asked by the citizens (which will be mostNuclear power plants have substantially increased

probably similar in all continents of our globalized

the safety of its facilities in recent years.

world) so that they can partake in the advancesTechnicians

andwhooperatetheseplantshaveadvantages.

Participation

ofnationalachieved a much higher level of knowledge.

organisms and institutions as well as international

Sharing of technological information within theexperts will be of great help in this task.

nuclear industry is much greater than in any otherfield. It is time to explain to people around theAugust 2011

world how the nuclear industry works and toregain the confidence and support that thistechnology deserves.

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