south-east asian prospects for nuclear power
TRANSCRIPT
Int. J. Global Energy Issues, Vol. 30, Nos. 1/2/3/4, 2008 249
South-East Asian prospects for nuclear power
Budi Sudarsono* Indonesian National Committee, World Energy Council, Jakarta, Indonesia E-mail: [email protected] *Corresponding author
Daniel Weisser Planning and Economic Studies Section, Department of Nuclear Energy, International Atomic Energy Agency, Wagramer Str. 5, P.O. Box 100, A-1400 Vienna, Austria E-mail: [email protected]
Abstract: South-East Asia’s strong economic growth of recent decades is expected to endure the requirement of increasing amounts of energy as well as the corresponding capital investments. The development of a nuclear power industry has been considered for some time in several states, but concrete government action is yet to follow. Decisions to launch nuclear power programmes would be facilitated if and when the international nuclear energy scene becomes more conducive, especially if countries in other regions either revive or adopt nuclear power programmes within the next few years for reasons such as mitigation of greenhouse gas emissions, security of supply or lower electricity costs.
Keywords: energy; electricity; South-East Asia; high growth; financing; nuclear power prospects; public acceptance.
Reference to this paper should be made as follows: Sudarsono, B. and Weisser, D. (2008) ‘South-East Asian prospects for nuclear power’, Int. J. Global Energy Issues, Vol. 30, Nos. 1/2/3/4, pp.249–263.
Biographical notes: Since 1961, Budi Sudarsono worked with the Institute for Atomic Energy, which in 1965 became the National Atomic Energy Agency (BATAN). He served in various positions, including the Chairman of the Preparatory Commission for Nuclear Power Construction (1972–1977 and 1979–1982). Between 1988 and 1998, he worked at the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) as Chief in the Energy Resources Section (1988–1996), as Secretary of the Commission (1996–1997) and finally as Regional Adviser on Energy (1997–1998). More recently (1998–2001), he was a principal research scientist at the National Nuclear Energy Agency.
Daniel Weisser works as an Energy Economist at the International Atomic Energy Agency. Previously, he was an energy consultant at IT Power, UK. He received a PhD in Energy Studies and an MSc in Environmental Technology from Imperial College, London, UK. His academic interests are climate change policies, low carbon energy technologies/strategies and small