Answers to the Questions (Part 3) by ofwgkta

With my personal reviews, Here's the final 6 answers to the questions I was eager to find answers to. All the answers are from trustful websites and the links are below each question. 
Hope you enjoy what I found out.

• Which countries have ever installed nuclear power plants in the world?

The countries that have nuclear powers are listed below.

United States, France, Japan, China, Russia, South Korea, India, Canada, Ukraine, United Kingdom, Sweden, Spain, Belgium, Germany, Czech Republic, Switzerland, Pakistan, Finland, Hungary, Slovakia, Argentina, Mexico, Bulgaria, Romania, Brazil, South Africa, Slovenia, Netherlands, Armenia, Iran (30 countries)

Many of the European countries have more than one nuclear reactor while only 3 of Asian countries have them. I guess there is a geographical tendency between West and East for the possession of nuclear power plants. Also, of course there should be economic or political factor behind whether or not a country has nuclear power plants.

However, while some countries are trying to have more nuclear power plants such as Japan, other countries like Germany, Italy, Spain and Switzerland, are to ban nuclear power plants or stop creating new of them. In fact, Germany has already shut down 8 of its nuclear power plants and is expected to shut 9 others down within the next few years. Ironically, Japan, the country that has experienced nuclear disaster twice, have pledged to make more use of nuclear power.

• Nuclear Power in the World Today. (n.d.). Retrieved July 11, 2018, from http://www.world-nuclear.org/information-library/current-and-future-generation/nuclear-power-in-the-world-today.aspx

• Number of operable nuclear power plants by country 2018 | Statistic. Retrieved July 11, 2018, from https://www.statista.com/statistics/267158/number-of-nuclear-reactors-in-operation-by-country/#0

·      When did nuclear power plants construction start worldwide?

The very first nuclear power plant operated in Obninsk, Soviet Union (Current Russia) on June 26, 1954. Interestingly, nuclear power was firstly introduced for military purpose as atomic bomb, which later on brought about catastrophic disaster in Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Japan in 1945. Only 10 years after the unpreceded bombing, people thought of a different use of nuclear power.

At the same time Russia introduced nuclear power as a way to generate electricity, Japan passed the Atomic Energy Basic Law and pledged to use nuclear power only for peaceful purposes.  On November 10, 1966, the country introduced its first commercial nuclear power plant, ōkai genshi-ryoku hatsuden-sho, in Ibaraki Prefecture.

• Javascript Required! (n.d.). Retrieved July 17, 2018, from http://www.world-nuclear.org/information-library/current-and-future-generation/plans-for-new-reactors-worldwide.aspx

• Javascript Required! (n.d.). Retrieved July 17, 2018, from http://www.world-nuclear.org/information-library/current-and-future-generation/nuclear-power-in-the-world-today.aspx

• Can nuclear power be kept safe from natural disasters?

The likelihood of accidents or meltdowns is very low and even declining because of better management and technology. In fact, the meltdown in Fukushima on March 11^th, 2011 is the only accident that is brought by natural disaster. Chernobyl accident occurred because of false management. Three-mile accident happened due to systematic failure in the non-nuclear secondary system. Out of all the 450 nuclear reactors, in the history of nuclear power of decades, natural disaster caused only one meltdown of them one time. Considering the fact, the possibility of meltdown by natural disaster is estimated very low. That said, no one knows when a catastrophic earthquake strikes again, and the possibility cannot be eliminated at all.

• Javascript Required! (n.d.). Retrieved July 17, 2018, from http://www.world-nuclear.org/information-library/safety-and-security/safety-of-plants/safety-of-nuclear-power-reactors.aspx

• Voices: Nuclear plants and natural disasters: Fukushima's fallout. (2014, March 13). Retrieved July 17, 2018, from https://www.earthmagazine.org/article/voices-nuclear-plants-and-natural-disasters-fukushimas-fallout

• Is nuclear power still cheaper even with the cost of radiation clean ups?

Compared to the other ways, construction for nuclear power plant costs a lot of money. According to https://www.synapse-energy.com, between 2000-2002, the average cost to construct a nuclear power plant was $2-$4 billion. Compared to that of a coal power plant ($2 billion), nuclear power does cost more than other sort of power plants.  Even though the cost to build a nuclear power plant is relatively high, it is the most cost-competitive energy source to run. In fact, the total operating cost for nuclear power plant is between one third to one half of that for a coal-fired plant and one fourth to one fifth for gas-fired plant. Looking over the course of its operation, the total lifetime cost is relatively low.

Now, let’s take at its clean-up cost after a meltdown taking an example from Chernobyl accident. According to the report of 2009 by Belarus Foreign Ministry, the total damage from the accident is estimated at 235 billion dollars for 30 years. Due to the accident, Belarus lost one fifth of its agricultural land, which is worth $700 million per a year. In addition to that it affected lives of millions of people in its surroundings.

Once a nuclear power breaks down the damage it causes is catastrophic and is definitely more than it can make up for by itself. As long as there’s a certain risk involved, I don't think nuclear power is worth it.  

• Nuclear more competitive than fossil fuels: Report. (n.d.). Retrieved July 17, 2018, from http://www.world-nuclear-news.org/EE-Nuclear-more-competitive-than-fossil-fuels-report-09021702.html

• Javascript Required! (n.d.). Retrieved July 17, 2018, from http://www.world-nuclear.org/information-library/economic-aspects/economics-of-nuclear-power.aspx

• CHERNOBYL disaster. (n.d.). Retrieved July 17, 2018, from http://chernobyl.undp.org/russian/docs/belarus_23_anniversary.pdf

·      Does nuclear power produce any waste in the process of creating electricity?

Nuclear power reactor uses the heat from nuclear fission to generate electricity and in the process, it does NOT produce any green gas emission. It does produce some in the whole process, but the amount of it is very low. This is probably the very reason why nuclear power plant has been paid a lot of attention worldwide. Since it doesn't emit very small amount of green gas, it could be the very solution to global warming.

• Javascript Required! (n.d.). Retrieved July 17, 2018, from http://www.world-nuclear.org/information-library/nuclear-fuel-cycle/introduction/what-is-uranium-how-does-it-work.aspx

• Nuclear more competitive than fossil fuels: Report. (n.d.). Retrieved July 17, 2018, from http://www.world-nuclear-news.org/EE-Nuclear-more-competitive-than-fossil-fuels-report-09021702.html

• Is the nuclear power vital to securing electricity supply?

As the modern technology spreads all over the world and more people get to put their hands on electricity-supported devices, the need for electricity will surely soar up. If all the people in china have access to the same quality of life as western people, if all the people in India do the same, electricity needs will go far beyond its supplies. There certainly is growing demand for more electricity.

Also, building more and more power plants just trying to meet the electricity need is definitely not enough. Fossil fuels are estimated to be ran out in the near future and there’s a growing concern about global warming and the predicted consequences it will bring about. Building more coal-fired or gas-fired plants will only end up making things worse. Electricity has to be produced in a way that's environmentally friendly. Considering the situation the world is facing and solutions we have as of today, I suppose there will be more need for nuclear power plants in the near future.

• Javascript Required! (n.d.). Retrieved July 17, 2018, from http://www.world-nuclear.org/information-library/current-and-future-generation/world-energy-needs-and-nuclear-power.aspx

• Javascript Required! (n.d.). Retrieved July 17, 2018, from http://www.world-nuclear.org/information-library/nuclear-fuel-cycle/introduction/what-is-uranium-how-does-it-work.aspx

• Is it possible for a country to alter the use of nuclear power to a nuclear weapon?

            

No, nuclear power plant does use uranium as its fuel, however, the kind of uranium used to make electricity and the kind of uranium used for nuclear weapon is different. So, like a country as Japan that pledged to have no nuclear weapons does have nuclear power plants, but as the country pledged, technically it doesn't have nuclear weapons and resources to make them. It’s relieving to know that it’s not possible to alter the purpose of nuclear power plants, since a lot of countries with no nuclear weapons have nuclear power reactors. If it was possible, there would already be an intense controversy over its possession.

• Javascript Required! (n.d.). Retrieved July 17, 2018, from http://www.world-nuclear.org/information-library/nuclear-fuel-cycle/introduction/what-is-uranium-how-does-it-work.aspx

• Nuclear Power in the World Today. (n.d.). Retrieved July 11, 2018, from http://www.world-nuclear.org/information-library/current-and-future-generation/nuclear-power-in-the-world-today.aspx