Where are Jamaica's technical institutions in this?

THE EDITOR, Madam:

The national conversation surrounding Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) has now advanced well beyond casual speculation. Memoranda of understanding have reportedly been signed. Public officials have spoken positively about exploring nuclear technologies. Discussions increasingly imply that Jamaica should seriously contemplate a nuclear future.

Yet a troubling question remains largely unanswered: Where are Jamaica's principal technical institutions in this discussion?

The Jamaica Institution of Engineers (JIE), University of Technology (UTech), University of the West Indies (UWI), Planning Institute of Jamaica (PIOJ}, Office of Utilities Regulation (OUR), Scientific Research Council (SRC), and Bureau of Standards Jamaica (BSJ) each possesses expertise relevant to evaluating a proposal of this magnitude.

The June 5 island-wide blackout highlighted vulnerabilities, consequently, several questions deserve urgent public examination.

How would a 60–300 MW reactor unit interact with an electrical system whose peak demand remains below 700 MW? What would be the consequences of an unexpected reactor trip or SCRAM event?

What additional spinning reserves, transmission infrastructure, and grid stabilisation investments would be required? What specialised workforce would be necessary to operate, regulate, inspect, and maintain such facilities safely over decades, day after day, hour by hour, minute by minute?

What would be the likely impact on consumer electricity tariffs?

How would Jamaica manage seismic risks, hurricane exposure, emergency planning, and long-term waste stewardship? Most importantly, how do these costs compare with alternative investments in solar, wind, hydro, biomass, battery storage, microgrids, demand response, efficiency improvements, grid modernisation, and black-start capability?

The public deserves answers grounded in evidence rather than enthusiasm.

Indeed, the greatest service these institutions can render is independence. JIE should convene public engineering reviews, UTech and UWI should publish peer-reviewed analyses and system simulations, OUR and the PIOJ should model the economic, tariff, and consumer-risk implications. SRC should evaluate technological readiness and scientific assumptions. BSJ should assess standards, certification requirements, and quality-assurance obligations.

Such activities would simply allow us to make informed decisions.

Democracies require major national proposals to withstand independent scrutiny before taxpayers are committed to potentially enormous obligations. At this stage, Jamaica needs less advocacy and more analysis.

DENNIS A. MINOTT