An Overview for Achieving Public Understanding and Acceptance of Nuclear Power: Bangladesh Perspective

Since 2000, swathes of energy experts, government officials, industry representatives and journalists have predicted the emergence of a global ‘nuclear renaissance.’ Nuclear energy was said to be on the precipice of a new era of development, characterised by widespread construction of new nuclear reactors and a concomitant increase in global nuclear capacity. Despite this expectation, there is little evidence to date which suggests that a revival of nuclear power has taken place in the regions of Western Europe and North America in the way that the rhetoric depicted. This thesis therefore seeks to firstly establish that there is a disjuncture between the rhetoric and reality of the nuclear renaissance in Western Europe and North America, and secondly, to explain why this disjuncture exists. Academic and journalistic debate over recent developments in civil nuclear energy policy has tended to focus on two key reasons for why there has not been a widespread expansion of nuclear energy in these regions. Firstly, that the nuclear disaster at Fukushima in 2011 reignited concerns over nuclear safety, thereby eroding public and political support for nuclear new build. Secondly, that the economic problems facing nuclear development continued to act as a major disincentive to the construction of new nuclear power plants. However, the global applicability of these two issues means that neither of these explanations can explain why the nuclear renaissance appears to have failed in Western Europe and North America, while nuclear new build is expanding in other parts of the world. Moreover, the revival of safety concerns post-Fukushima fails to explain why there was little evidence of a nuclear renaissance taking place prior to March 2011. This thesis provides a contribution to knowledge by adopting a more holistic and inductive approach for understanding why there is a disjuncture between the expectation and reality of the nuclear renaissance in Western Europe and North America. It challenges existing explanations for the failure of the nuclear renaissance as being simplistic, mono-causal and a-historical. This thesis disputes the idea that the absence of a widespread expansion of nuclear energy and the apparent failure of the nuclear renaissance can be attributed to any one problem or event. Instead, it embraces the simple premise that a broad range of contextual factors must be explored in order to fully understand why the rhetoric of a nuclear renaissance has not become a reality. An extensive analysis of government, industry and media documents published from 1945 onwards, as well as interviews with experts in nuclear energy policy, was undertaken in order to establish a better understanding of how and why nuclear energy development changes over time. Through this process, it became clear that the reasons typically cited for explaining changes in nuclear development are ‘nuclear-specific factors’. That is, factors relating directly to the construction and operation of nuclear power plants – such as the economics of nuclear energy, the safety of nuclear power plants, and the storage and disposal of nuclear waste. While these factors undeniably play an important role in influencing nuclear new build, focusing solely on these nuclear-specific factors obscures the impact of broader social, political, and contextual changes on nuclear energy development. This thesis draws upon political science literature to argue that the changing trajectory of nuclear energy development has also been influenced by broader contextual shifts in the post-war era. The impact of four ‘contextual factors’ on nuclear power are examined: the rise of environmentalism, the decline in public trust in government, changes in risk perception, and the rise of neoliberalism. Each of these contextual shifts have changed the way in which agents think about and respond to the issue of nuclear power. Consequently, this thesis argues that both nuclear-specific factors and contextual factors are important in explaining change in civil nuclear energy development. All of these factors are dynamic and interactive, mutually shaping and influencing one another. Moreover, both of these groups of factors have contributed to the failure of the nuclear renaissance in Western Europe and North America. The ongoing presence of these challenges will continue to hamper the future success of civil nuclear energy development, and prevent a nuclear renaissance from taking place.

Recently, trust has been in vogue in the social sciences. However, in risk studies, there have been few causal models of trust. This study proposes and tests a causal model of trust in which (1) source credibility influences trust and (2) two kinds of trust—i.e., trust in government and trust in regulation—affect the perceived risk and acceptance of nuclear energy. Based on survey data with a sample of 1014 local residents living near a nuclear power station, we tested a causal model using structural equation modeling. As for the results of the analysis: first, we confirmed the validity of the proposed causal model of trust. Second, on the causal path, credibility directly influenced trust in government and trust in regulation and indirectly affected the perceived risk and acceptance of nuclear power. Third, the two kinds of trust had (in)direct impacts on perceived risk and acceptance. Trust in regulation had more power to explain perceived risks and acceptance than trust in government. Trust is important, but the kind of trust is more important.

In the article, the author conducts an analysis of the national nuclear characteristics of the Republic of Bulgaria, addressing the prospects of nuclear energy in the country, its strategic position in the national energy policy and the envisioned development for the construction of new nuclear power plants. It further considers public opinion on nuclear energy. The composition and institutional positioning of the national regulatory body are delineated, with particular attention paid to the safeguards ensuring its indepen- dence within the administrative framework of the state. The legislation in the Republic of Bulgaria that regulates the use of nuclear energy is notably extensive. In addition to the main nuclear law, public relations are also regulated by other laws, further elaborated through an array of subordinate normative acts. The article proceeds to outline, albeit briefly, the principal constitutional provisions, statutory laws, and regulatory by-laws pertinent to the licensing stages of nuclear power plants. Moreover, the analysis extends to the salient characteristics of the nuclear projects planned for implementation, issues arising in the context of contractual arrangements related to construction, as well as the national public procurement procedure for the construction of nuclear power plants. The discourse also encompasses the increasingly salient issue of small modular reactors with the author present the extent to which the country is interested in their implementa- tion and the challenges facing their licensing and implementation.

At present, there are hundreds of nuclear power plants in operation around the world. Anti-nuclear movements continue in many places, although the nuclear power plants have good operating records. It has some factors, and the first factor that the public knows little about nuclear industry, results in regarding the nuclear power plant mysterious. This condition relates to destructive scene by nuclear weapon with nuclear industry, deeming it unacceptable to take this risk. Secondly, construction of nuclear power plant and off site emergency may occupy large land. The public hopes to be rewarded more to offset the risk by their imagination. Last, it relates to the political environment of one country. Every country has its own situation, so the strategies of developing nuclear power plant are widely different. The public is not familiar with other nuclear engineering projects except nuclear power plants, and hence the boycott happens more frequently. Sino-French cooperation on nuclear fuel cycle project is the first large-scale commercial spent fuel reprocessing plant, which is the biggest cooperative project between China and France until now. AREVA is responsible for technology, and CNNC is responsible for building. Spent fuel reprocessing is the most important part of nuclear fuel cycle back end, which separates uranium and plutonium from spent fuel, and manufactures MOX fuel with recycled resources for using in nuclear reactor again. This will make the best use of the uranium resources. After that process, the fission products needed to be disposed reduce significantly. And it is good for environmental protection. The public protest happened in one of the candidate sites, when CNNC carried out the preliminary work of site selection. For meeting the enormous energy demands, the fossil energy may be exhausted in the future due to the greenhouse gases emission. Chinese government speeds up the development of new energy. Nuclear energy is the only technology with no emission of greenhouse gases and will be rapidly developed. Along with the nuclear power units continuing to increase, they become the critical factors in restricting the sustainable development of nuclear energy. That is efficient utilization of uranium resources, spent fuel intermediate storage, reprocessing, and geologic disposal of high level radioactive waste. To this project, it not only has a great current demand, but also closely relates to transition of energy structure. The public has different views in the project progressing, which results in wide concern and discussion. The article took this event for example, and analyzed the reason from all directions. Besides, the author put forward own views for the public acceptance events about nuclear engineering projects except nuclear power plant.

Assessment of public knowledge, perception, and acceptance of nuclear power in Bangladesh

What affects college students’ acceptance of nuclear energy? Evidence from China

Impact of Small Modular Reactors on the Acceptance of Nuclear Power by the Public, Investors, and Owners

There are considered the key milestones in the development of the Russian nuclear power: the fi rst studies of nuclear physics (the 1920s – 1930s); implementation of the «atomic project» (the 1940s); large-scale development of civil nuclear energy (the 1950s – 1980s); a crisis and restoration of nuclear industry (1990 – 2007); active development on the global nuclear energy market (2007 – present). Analysis is provided of the current state and development prospects in all the key segments of the nuclear industry in Russia: uranium mining, uranium conversion, uranium enrichment, nuclear fuel fabrication, construction of nuclear power plants (NPPs), nuclear power engineering, operation of NPPs and power production, maintenance of NPP power units, decommissioning of NPPs, handling radioactive waste and spent nuclear fuel. Russia is identifi ed as one of the global leaders in all these segments of the world nuclear market (having, among other things, the world’s largest portfolio of NPP orders and the largest uranium enrichment capacities). The export potential for each of the nuclear industry segments under consideration is identifi ed and assessed. It is shown that the segments of NPP construction and manufacturing of nuclear power equipment production are of the largest export potential for Russia. At an early stage of the nuclear fuel cycle, the segment of enriched uranium product and nuclear fuel fabrication has the greatest prospects for growth in export supplies due to the growing number of NPP units of Russian design in the world and Russia’s entry to the market of fuel fabrication for reactors of foreign design.

The problems of ensuring the growth of the export potential of investment projects of nuclear power plants in the global markets of nuclear and energy construction by modeling and managing the organizational and economic reliability of their life cycles at the preinvestment phase are investigated. The relevance of this topic is determined by a significant level of uncertainty in the field of reliability of the imp- lementation of international investment projects of nuclear power plants, when more than 60% of nuclear reactors in the world are being built with a delay in construction and with an increase in costs. The aim of the research is to develop methodological approaches and practical re- commendations for modeling and integrated management of indicators of organizational and economic reliability of the construction of nuclear power facilities in the global NPP market at pre-investment stages. The article demonstrates the scientific results: a methodology for modeling the organizational and economic reliabi- lity of the life cycle of industrial construction of nuclear power plants; features and development trends of this type of industrial construction in the global NPP market; recommendations in the field of investment management of indust- rial construction to increase the organizational and economic reliability of NPP construction based on a controlled factor space and multicriteria optimization of calendar schedules. The investigated conceptual approach in the field of modeling and managing the organizational and economic reliability of the life cycles of industrial construction and operation of nuclear power plants in global markets is defined as a promising market tool for increasing the competitiveness of Russian divisions of Rosatom State Corporation. This implies ensuring the growth of industrial construction of nuclear power plants on the international market from the current share of Rosatom State Corporation of 26% (130 billion US dollars) to 40–50% for the period up to 2035, by increasing the organizational and economic reliability of the implementation of these types investment projects.

In the context of the growing share of renewable energy and the impending decommission of a large number of coal-fired units, nuclear energy is the only green energy that can replace coal power for a stable, clean, efficient, and large-scale power supply. This article compares the differences between coal power and nuclear power in terms of thermal system, thermal cycle, turbine parameters, and safety. It discusses the possibility of replacing the boiler of a coal power plant with nuclear power, that is, replacing the boiler of a coal power plant with a nuclear reactor for generation/heating/cogeneration. For coal-fired units with similar capacity that do not use a reheat cycle (at or below high pressure) and nuclear power units (such as a high-temperature gas-cooled reactor), as well as coal-fired units with a reheat cycle (ultra-high pressure and above) and nuclear power units (such as pressurized water reactors), there are great differences in steam parameters. In terms of steam turbines, the size of nuclear power units is relatively larger, requiring additional dehumidification measures. In addition, the safety factors and management methods considered in the site selection, construction, and operation of nuclear power plants are more stringent and complex, and comprehensive analysis and evaluation are needed in aspects such as waste treatment and accident emergency response. Except for the relevant provisions of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers code for pressure vessels, nuclear power units are not compatible with coal-fired units in terms of safety standards. Therefore, considering comprehensively, it is believed that the scheme of nuclear power replacing coal-fired units for power generation/heating/cogeneration program is not feasible at present.

Introducing nuclear power in Turkey: A historic state strategy and future prospects

Just past its 50th birthday, commercial nuclear energy is experiencing a tentative rejuvenation that could result in a greater role as a global source of electricity. Skeptics still harbor many of the objections that have slowed or stopped the construction of new nuclear power plants, but rising concerns about the cost and security of energy supplies and global climate change have reframed the debate in terms more favorable for nuclear power advocates. As a result, the question of whether governments should encourage the construction of new nuclear power plants is no longer off the table in developed countries such as Australia, the United Kingdom, and the United States. For other developed countries such as France and Japan, and for countries with fast-growing economies such as China and India, nuclear energy has remained a central component of energy policy. For example, to achieve its goal of generating 4% of electricity from nuclear power, China plans to add more than 30 new nuclear plants by 2020 to the 11 currently in operation or under construction. India’s goal is to supply 25% of its electricity from nuclear power by 2050. Worldwide there are now 440 nuclear power reactors operating in 31 countries and producing a combined capacity of 367 gigawatts electric, or about 16% of the world’s supply of electricity. The Vienna-based International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)—the agency of the United Nations chartered to promote cooperation on nuclear issues—estimates that at least 60 new nuclear plants will be constructed in the next 15 years. Given the world’s growing demand for electricity, however, this added capacity will still account for only 17% of global electricity use.

Objective To investigate the public's perception and attitudes on the development of nuclear power, assess their knowledge about nuclear power and radiation, and to build a database on the public's perception for the purpose of providing better public health service, associate technical support and give suggestions for decision-makers. Methods In total of 1 440 local residents who live within 30 kilometers of a proposed nuclear power were chosen for in-person interviews. Questionnaires comprised of 49 questions designed to assess the public's knowledge of radiation and nuclear power, their attitudes to the development of nuclear power, their evaluation of local government and their informational environment. ANOVA was used to compare the influence of different factors on cognitive level. Multivariate linear regression was used to analyze the main factors affecting the level of public awareness. Comparison among groups (respondents in this survey vs. other comparable surveys) was conducted using χ2 test. Results Of the respondents, 29.7% and 39.5% of respondents knew about nuclear power and radiation, respectively, 24.2% supported the construction of a nuclear power plant in their own area, which was lower than the average national support for construction of nuclear power plants (29.0%) (χ2=8.71, P<0.05). When queried about safety cncerns 36.8% of respondents worried about the safety of nuclear power plant and 78.5% of respondents were afraid of the damage to their health, while 34.1% of respondents held the belief that the nuclear power plant could bring harmful effect even under normal operation. Regarding the informational environment, 90.0% of the respondents could not or barely got access to knowledge on nuclear power plants, 71.1% hoped to acquire the knowledge on nuclear power plants, 48.4% hoped to acquire this knowledge by television programs, and 62.4% mostly trusted information given by experts from universities or institutes. In comparison to other findings acquired in similar surveys on the Tianwan and Qinshan nuclear power plants before the Fukushima accident, the findings indicated that safety assessment of nuclear power plant were lower (χ2=20.49, 56.96, P<0.05). Conclusions The public's knowledge level on nuclear power and radiation directly influenced their attitude on nuclear power. The related agencies should strengthen publicity and education in order to increase the public's knowledge on nuclear power and radiation. The communication platform between the related agencies and the public should be established. Active and continued risk communication should be carried out to increase public acceptance of nuclear power. Key words: Nuclear power plant; Nuclear power; Radiation; Perception; Risk communication

The impact of TMI upon the public acceptance of nuclear power

During the last decade many people in the nuclear industry were forecasting a renaissance in construction of nuclear power plants, especially in light of the near-zero greenhouse gas emissions of nuclear power and the global need for such cleaner electricity sources. While the accident in March 2011 at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station in Japan resulted in dozens of reactor shutdowns in Japan and reconsideration of new nuclear power plants in several countries, other countries are continuing to build new plants but not at a fast enough rate yet to make a significant further reduction in greenhouse gas emissions. Even before this accident, the prospects for major growth in nuclear power were dim. To explicate the present situation and potential future scenarios for nuclear power, this paper examines the issue of who bears the financial risk especially during the construction phase, the roles of governments in financial interventions such as loan guarantees, tax credits, and prices on greenhouse gas emissions, the effects of regulated versus market-based utility systems, the competition with relatively cheap natural gas, the roles of various governments around the world in determining the use of nuclear power, the interdependent nature of the nuclear industry with companies both competing and cooperating with each other, and the issue of whether small modular reactors or advanced nuclear reactors could result in many more plants being constructed in the United States and worldwide.