Swiss Follow Germany in Phasing out Nuclear Energy
First it was Germany and now its Swiss! The two countries had decided to phase out nuclear energy. Germany wants to eliminate nuclear energy by 2022 while the Swiss want to eliminate it by 2034.
Nuclear energy provides 22% of Germany's energy needs and 40% of Switzerland's energy needs. Ministers, Heads of Delegation of member states and international organization are meeting on after a Japan crisis IAEA ministerial meeting to strengthen nuclear safety throughout the world.
Phasing out nuclear energy is costly for both countries. The cost of electricity would rise. The efforts to reduce carbon emission are compromised. Germany plans to build 24 large coal burning power stations. This produces tons of carbon dioxide emissions which lead to global warming. Both countries will have to spend money on importing natural gas.
Germany is more likely to depend on France and Czech for electricity. This means that France and Czech will have to build more nuclear power stations to meet the Germany's needs. Germany will also have to depend on Russia for gas.
The striking question is: Why has Swiss followed the Germany example? Is it because of Japan's Fukushima Diiach nuclear plant accident? Or is it because of upcoming 23 October elections?
The decision to phase out nuclear energy by two countries seems to be politically motivated. German's Merkel had made this decision after she had lost her majority in the upperhouse parliament at regional elections. To protect he CDU party in 2013 national elections, she has to make a U turn on her nuclear policy.
Unlike Japan, Swiss has little probability of natural disasters like tsunamis and earthquakes. So the Japan Fukushami accident is not the reason why Swiss may decide to phase out nuclear energy. It appears that the decision made by the two countries is a means of staying in power by taking the advantage of the citizens by Japan nuclear accident. The citizens of Swiss, Germany and the world as a whole had already been threatened by the Japan incident. As a result, a political party which spearhead nuclear energy development may de-campaign itself.
Although countries call for stress tests on nuclear plants and safety strengthening, the future of nuclear energy seems bleak. Nuclear energy producing countries are more likely to follow the Germany and Swiss trend.
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