Vaz bullish on nuclear energy

The Ministry of Science, Energy and Technology is pursuing plans to incorporate nuclear energy in the energy mix in Jamaica.

Portfolio minister Daryl Vaz, in his contribution to the Sectoral Debate in Parliament yesterday, said that if Jamaica does not join the rest of the world in pursuit of building its own nuclear-energy capabilities, the country will be left behind.

Vaz said experts have agreed that nuclear energy will be the only way for countries to move to net-zero carbon as nuclear energy is the only source that can serve as base-load power for countries to make that transition.

According to Vaz, many countries are now accelerating their peaceful nuclear energy programmes amid today’s nuclear renaissance.

He said that large nuclear power plants have been in reach of only a handful of countries, given the cost, complexity, and time associated with undertaking these mega infrastructure projects.

The energy minister noted that it is important for the country to recognise the broader benefits of incorporating a cost-competitive energy source, such as nuclear energy, as the dominant source of energy.

In 2021, Cabinet mandated the ministry to explore incorporating nuclear energy into the energy mix and to initiate a comprehensive public-consultation process.

Jamaica has been in ongoing dialogue with the International Atomic Energy Agency, an organisation that provides a global platform for scientific and technical cooperation in the nuclear field.