Nuclear power accounts for about 16% of the global electricity supply One tonne of nuclear fuel is equivalent to burning about 120,000 tones of coal Uranium, unlike fossil fuels, can be recycled Source: World Nuclear Transport Institute From BBC Web site
Nuclear electricity has been reported to be cheaper than gas as long as oil is more expensive than $28 a barrel. It's currently above the $50 mark.
Dr Keith Melton, at the New & Renewable Energy Centre, believes the CO2 advantages of nuclear energy outweigh any cost-effectiveness issues, but dismisses claims that the atomic option is a cheaper one.
"I think the cost of nuclear will be higher than for fossil fuels. If oil goes up to $100 a barrel and drags up gas and electricity with it, that could be different. But at the moment, the argument is CO2s," Dr Melton says.
Nuclear form of power is "carbon neutral", meaning it does not contribute to global warming; nor does it spew out the sulphurous chemicals that cause acid rain.
Fear factor
Opponents to the use of nuclear fuel often brandish three haunting reminders of nuclear power's fallibility: Sellafield, Three Mile Island and Chernobyl.
No new nuclear power stations have been both planned and built in either the US and Britain since these incidents!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
