The Basic Assumption
Capitalism will not let unprofitable business survive for long.
Nuclear Power Generation
The calculation of the total cost of the management of a nuclear power
generation must include the money paid:
generation must include the money paid:
- to have the locals accept a nuclear power plant.
- to develop the technology to build reactors.
- to provide a station of pumped-up hydroelectric power, which is a peculiar facility that eats up more electricity than it generates.
- to finalize the disposition of nuclear wastes, taking a long period of time, minimum 300 year.
- to handle the crises upon a huge natural disaster.
Technological development alone would deprive the business of over half its
net profit if the business were entirely private.
net profit if the business were entirely private.
No one nation has started the final disposition of nuclear wastes. It is difficult
to calculate how much money is to be paid for hundreds of years of watching the
waste deposits. Natural disasters will add an immense amount to the total cost,
too.
to calculate how much money is to be paid for hundreds of years of watching the
waste deposits. Natural disasters will add an immense amount to the total cost,
too.
Nuclear power generation as a whole is not sustainable as capitalist business.
Private companies is making money just because tax money is paid to cover most
of the front-end and back-end costs.
Private companies is making money just because tax money is paid to cover most
of the front-end and back-end costs.
When power generation was privatized in England, no one raised his hand to acquire
nuclear power plants and they remained in the public sector.
nuclear power plants and they remained in the public sector.
The Motivations
The existence of nuclear power plants is nevertheless part of our reality. They
are supported by the motivations that do not jive together with capitalism.
are supported by the motivations that do not jive together with capitalism.
When North Korea and Iran started their development of nuclear technology, the
international community was upset and bewildered. Nuclear technology means
something as a threat or a pressure in high politics, that is,military and foreign
affairs.
international community was upset and bewildered. Nuclear technology means
something as a threat or a pressure in high politics, that is,military and foreign
affairs.
I also guess that the act of converting one element into another has a irresistable
appeal to some of us. In the early days, several scientists died from exposure to
radiation and radioactive materials, literally devoting their lives to the
technology and its development. I hear a 15-year-old boy scout caused a disaster
by trying to make some plutonium in his hand-made reactor. Such episodes reminds
me of alchemist wannabes in the Middle Age.
appeal to some of us. In the early days, several scientists died from exposure to
radiation and radioactive materials, literally devoting their lives to the
technology and its development. I hear a 15-year-old boy scout caused a disaster
by trying to make some plutonium in his hand-made reactor. Such episodes reminds
me of alchemist wannabes in the Middle Age.
In short, it is not that they run reactors for the purpose of generating
electricity. They generate electricity to justify what they do with reactors.
electricity. They generate electricity to justify what they do with reactors.
