February 14, 2010
One of the major root problems of Nigeria today is energy insecurity. The dream of being among the Top 20 World Economies in 2020 would ever remain a dream in perpetuity if energy issue is not properly and urgently addressed. It’s a common knowledge that efforts by several administrations in the recent past to tackle energy problem have ended up reducing, instead of increasing, the national energy grid and capacity, though, at a very high cost.
One of the major root problems of Nigeria today is energy insecurity. The dream of being among the Top 20 World Economies in 2020 would ever remain a dream in perpetuity if energy issue is not properly and urgently addressed. It’s a common knowledge that efforts by several administrations in the recent past to tackle energy problem have ended up reducing, instead of increasing, the national energy grid and capacity, though, at a very high cost.
The problem has become monumental, if not horrific, as years passed by. It is also a common knowledge that corruption, mediocrity and incompetence are the attributable causes of this colossal failure.
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The truth remains that energy security is the foundation stone and the pillar upon which every advanced world economy is built. You can’t expect to succeed in creating jobs without first solving energy problems. In fact, energy security is the main catalyst to job creation. All economic activities; the industries, the factories, the schools, the businesses, the markets, the hospitals, the services companies, the hotels, tourism and all the public and private sectors need constant energy to function effectively. Even you and I need energy in our homes to have quality life. Constant energy in our homes would even help to reduce the number of malaria victims recorded annually, and also help our nascent democracy to grow faster through availability of information and easily accessible education at our various homes via internet, TV, radio, etc.
More Importantly, come to think of the losses made. The daily economic losses and the lost of revenues arising from energy insecurity is worth double, or even more, when compared with the daily revenue generated from crude oil sales. This is why it is imperative on Nigerian government to declare state of emergency on energy generation sub-sector if the country is really committed and determined to grow economically.
Additionally, having already lost out in carbon energy generation even though we’ve got enough crude oil to run our energy generation turbines, we are still opportune to join in the crusade of the New-World-Energy-Order. As climate change campaign gathers momentum day by day, the world, in response, is gradually drifting away from carbon energy to other alternative sources of energy. The recent Copenhagen Accord (December 2009) is an evident alert, loud enough to ring into our national ear of urgency. I think we should, with utmost speed of action, be seriously planning, if not already constructing massively, alternative sources of energy power plants.
Strikingly, General Motors (GM) will be releasing Voltec electric cars into the market late this year (2010), Chevrolet will be releasing its own version of electric cars (2011 Volt) in 2011. All other auto companies’ workshops are busy as well coming up with their own versions of electric cars. In essence, there is an automobile-revolution going on around the world. This is a signal that change is in the air. In the next 5 to 10 years, there will be a drastic change in the kind of energy source the modern vehicles use. Definitely, it will be an economic slaughtering to all oil producing countries. This situation will consequently lead to less consumption of crude oil, less demand and, of course, fall in oil prices. Worse will be the case for a country like Nigeria that largely depends on oil revenues.
Interestingly, some major oil countries, like Saudi Arabia, UAE, Iran, have sensed the danger long before now, and have already, in their wisdom, embarked on a speedy planning and construction of nuclear power plants to secure their future energy needs. UAE in particular, has mapped out billions of dollar for this purpose, luring and hiring nuclear experts, professionals and engineers from all over the world. I would not let the antecedents of Nigerian government on energy security issues becloud my strong believe that the government has no option but to take the bull by the horn at this defining moment. I strongly pray they do.
Nuclear energy is the most favourable alternative source of energy to carbon. The choice of nuclear energy demands good planning, sound management and availability of resources and funds. The planning includes issues of siting, location, public awareness, the kind of reactors most suitable, the method to be used, supply of fissile materials, investors, licensing, safety, transportation, safeguards, security, storage and disposal facilities, liability, insurance and financial security, decommissioning etc. it is actually a very extensive and sensitive program that demands expertise, good knowledge, resources and above all international cooperation and trust.
Construction of new nuclear power plant would gulp up to an average of 3 – 5 billion pounds and would take an average of 10 to 20 years to be completed.
Nuclear energy is fascinating source energy. It emits no or little carbon. Once construction of nuclear power plant is completed up to full capacity level, cost of operations and maintenance is low when compared with other sources of energy. Though, decommissioning may have another cost concerns, but good planning would always take care of it.
Finally, the choice of nuclear energy against other alternative sources of energy is anchored in its average power generation capacity of about 80% compared to other sources’ below 40% average capacity. Therefore, if Nigeria really wants to be among the Top 20 World Economies, they should be thinking nuclear, because it is evident that no advanced world economy would expect to effectively run its industries and factories with other alternative sources of energy. Thus, it is not surprising to hear today, countries like UK seriously talking about ‘Nuclear New Build’, i.e. building new nuclear power plants to secure their future energy needs.
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ANTHONY ADISIANYA
International Nuclear Lawyer and Nuclear Policy Analyst
The problem has become monumental, if not horrific, as years passed by. It is also a common knowledge that corruption, mediocrity and incompetence are the attributable causes of this colossal failure.
articleadslinks
The truth remains that energy security is the foundation stone and the pillar upon which every advanced world economy is built. You can’t expect to succeed in creating jobs without first solving energy problems. In fact, energy security is the main catalyst to job creation. All economic activities; the industries, the factories, the schools, the businesses, the markets, the hospitals, the services companies, the hotels, tourism and all the public and private sectors need constant energy to function effectively. Even you and I need energy in our homes to have quality life. Constant energy in our homes would even help to reduce the number of malaria victims recorded annually, and also help our nascent democracy to grow faster through availability of information and easily accessible education at our various homes via internet, TV, radio, etc.
More Importantly, come to think of the losses made. The daily economic losses and the lost of revenues arising from energy insecurity is worth double, or even more, when compared with the daily revenue generated from crude oil sales. This is why it is imperative on Nigerian government to declare state of emergency on energy generation sub-sector if the country is really committed and determined to grow economically.
Additionally, having already lost out in carbon energy generation even though we’ve got enough crude oil to run our energy generation turbines, we are still opportune to join in the crusade of the New-World-Energy-Order. As climate change campaign gathers momentum day by day, the world, in response, is gradually drifting away from carbon energy to other alternative sources of energy. The recent Copenhagen Accord (December 2009) is an evident alert, loud enough to ring into our national ear of urgency. I think we should, with utmost speed of action, be seriously planning, if not already constructing massively, alternative sources of energy power plants.
Strikingly, General Motors (GM) will be releasing Voltec electric cars into the market late this year (2010), Chevrolet will be releasing its own version of electric cars (2011 Volt) in 2011. All other auto companies’ workshops are busy as well coming up with their own versions of electric cars. In essence, there is an automobile-revolution going on around the world. This is a signal that change is in the air. In the next 5 to 10 years, there will be a drastic change in the kind of energy source the modern vehicles use. Definitely, it will be an economic slaughtering to all oil producing countries. This situation will consequently lead to less consumption of crude oil, less demand and, of course, fall in oil prices. Worse will be the case for a country like Nigeria that largely depends on oil revenues.
Interestingly, some major oil countries, like Saudi Arabia, UAE, Iran, have sensed the danger long before now, and have already, in their wisdom, embarked on a speedy planning and construction of nuclear power plants to secure their future energy needs. UAE in particular, has mapped out billions of dollar for this purpose, luring and hiring nuclear experts, professionals and engineers from all over the world. I would not let the antecedents of Nigerian government on energy security issues becloud my strong believe that the government has no option but to take the bull by the horn at this defining moment. I strongly pray they do.
Nuclear energy is the most favourable alternative source of energy to carbon. The choice of nuclear energy demands good planning, sound management and availability of resources and funds. The planning includes issues of siting, location, public awareness, the kind of reactors most suitable, the method to be used, supply of fissile materials, investors, licensing, safety, transportation, safeguards, security, storage and disposal facilities, liability, insurance and financial security, decommissioning etc. it is actually a very extensive and sensitive program that demands expertise, good knowledge, resources and above all international cooperation and trust.
Construction of new nuclear power plant would gulp up to an average of 3 – 5 billion pounds and would take an average of 10 to 20 years to be completed.
Nuclear energy is fascinating source energy. It emits no or little carbon. Once construction of nuclear power plant is completed up to full capacity level, cost of operations and maintenance is low when compared with other sources of energy. Though, decommissioning may have another cost concerns, but good planning would always take care of it.
Finally, the choice of nuclear energy against other alternative sources of energy is anchored in its average power generation capacity of about 80% compared to other sources’ below 40% average capacity. Therefore, if Nigeria really wants to be among the Top 20 World Economies, they should be thinking nuclear, because it is evident that no advanced world economy would expect to effectively run its industries and factories with other alternative sources of energy. Thus, it is not surprising to hear today, countries like UK seriously talking about ‘Nuclear New Build’, i.e. building new nuclear power plants to secure their future energy needs.
articleadsbanner
ANTHONY ADISIANYA
International Nuclear Lawyer and Nuclear Policy Analyst
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