ACHARA ASHAYAGACHAT
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| TARA: Thailand should employ clean energy methods. |
BRUSSELS : The European Union (EU) has advised the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) to go for cheaper and less risky renewable energy rather than nuclear power.
Ferran Tarradellas Espuny, a spokesman for the Energy Commissioner, said that Europe was serious about developing renewable energy resources and added that within a decade European companies would be world leaders in the field.
"Now it is relying on two factors: the economy of scale and technological development," the spokesman said in a meeting with Asean journalists.
"But it will not be too long before the demand for RES gets to the level where the cost of production will be offset by the high demand and abundant supply."
With this supply of sources for bio-fuel energy in the region, Southeast Asia should start to quickly and seriously develop renewable energy resources, he added.
"You should go for it. It is cheaper than investing in nuclear development," he said.
He said Europe was aiming to reduce its energy consumption by 20% by 2020, meaning it had to improve efficiency, which would help reduce 20% of the carbon dioxide emissions into the atmosphere by the same deadline.
Mr Espuny emphasised that solar and wind power as well as bio-fuel would be the main sources for renewable energy.
"It is not true that bio-fuel has caused the global food price hike. The price of rice and some other crops are increasing, but those are not sources of bio-fuels," he added.
The spokesman said the EU has not actively encouraged other countries to use nuclear power, although some EU members such as France are key players in that area.
The EU instead suggested that developing solar and wind energy would be a niche for European corporations, and it has no safety risks, said Mr Espuny.
"To have nuclear-based energy, you need efficiency and professional staff," he said.
"And it takes time to build up human resources and prepare [public and official] awareness of nuclear safety.
"In Europe, it costs 2.4 billion (about 120 billion baht) to operate a nuclear plant and it takes seven years for a return.
"The nuclear production structure is also too complicated, as Europe does not have abundant uranium."
Greenpeace Thailand coordinator Tara Buakamsri has called for environmentalists to push for legislation on cleaner energy following the Philippines successfully passing its Renewable Energy Bill last month after an 18-year struggle.
Thailand should seriously consider closing its coal-fired power stations and turn to cleaner energy such as solar and wind, and not the high-risk and expensive nuclear power, Mr Tara said.
Greenpeace Thailand is campaigning for new Energy Minister Wannarat Charnveerakul to consider implementing effective energy-saving measures.
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