Expert: “Communication a Vital Key in Spreading Nuclear Message”
Expert: “Communication a Vital Key in Spreading Nuclear Message”
  • by Lee Jae-seung(jasonlee@koreaittimes.com)
  • 승인 2015.05.08 20:05
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Daniel S. Lipman, Vice President of Suppliers and International Programs of the United States’ Nuclear Energy Institute (NEI)

Korea IT Times had an interview with Daniel S. Lipman, Vice President of Suppliers and International Programs of the United States’ Nuclear Energy Institute (NEI) while he is participating in the Korea Atomic Power Annual Conference 2015. 

There can be few energy issues quite as divisive as nuclear power.

Now, in the years after the Fukishima Daiichi nuclear disaster of 2011, the modern world has once again reverted back to the way things were post 1986, when the Chernobyl meltdown turned public opinion against nuclear energy.

Yet there can be no doubt that in the modern world, the issue of where we source power from has become more pressing than ever. The supply of carbon-based power sources, such as oil, natural gas and coal has become depleted, yet our need for more – and cheaper – electric power has never been more evident.

Although some of the most vehement opponents of nuclear power have been environmental groups, it is worth noting that almost as many members of the Green movement are actually ardently pro-nuclear. Perhaps chief among their number, notes Daniel S. Lipman, Vice President of Suppliers and International Programs of the United States’ Nuclear Energy Institute (NEI), is none other than Patrick Moore, the founder of Greenpeace.

Among the NEI’s many roles is the delicate task of managing PR efforts with a whole range of groups, which ranges from the executive level at the White House, to Congress, to grass roots efforts.

Says Lipman, a recent visitor to Korea, “We do our utmost to maintain a good relationship with range of environmental organizations, even though some of them are not overtly in favor of nuclear power. We think it is important to maintain a positive relations with such groups. The NEI works hard to develop the idea of nuclear power as a clean source of energy.”

Despite NEI’s best efforts, though, opinions can often be hard to change. Lipman is quick to point out the fact that nuclear power’s lower emissions actually make nuclear power the most viable and safe of all current widely used energy solutions, even if many people are still unsure about the risks posed by nuclear power.

The challenge for organizations like NEI is to address misconceptions and misgivings about nuclear energy. He explains, “If people are afraid, it’s hardly their fault. In the case of Korea, the government and bodies like Korea Hydro and Nuclear Power (KHNP) have to address their fears. When I fly back home to the United States tomorrow, I will be exposed to more radiation in the airplane than the workers in the Wolseong or Kori nuclear power plants. That is a fact, but few non-experts seem to be aware of that. The task at hand is explain these things to ordinary people in language that they understand.”

Yet memories of 2011 live on in East Asia, and considering Fukishima is only around 1,100km away from Seoul, pro-nuclear PR campaigners in Korea have their work cut out for them, considering the amount of radiation-related stories that circulated in the Korean press in the wake of the Japanese disaster.

However, when it comes to convincing the Korean public that nuclear energy is a positive thing, Lipman insists that managing established conceptions about power is vital, especially in a country where almost 30 percent of all the electricity consumed nationally is generated in Korean nuclear power stations.

“Nuclear energy is a very big thing in Korea as it is, and many are pushing for it to become even bigger,” says Lipman. “But it is essential that its importance is recognized fully. Everybody in Korea knows about Samsung, LG and Hyundai, but they may not know much about the KHNP, even if a sizeable share of their monthly energy payments actually go into paying the KHNP.”

And the American expert insists that one of the most powerful tools at KHNP’s disposal could be a policy of complete transparency. He says, “The Korean nuclear power sector needs to tell people the story of nuclear energy. Power providers need to open their facilities to the public. Let them understand what is going on. If not, it what you are doing looks intimidating and maybe even scary. But all that will vanish if you open everything up and show ordinary people what you do, and encourage your employees talk to people. If the KHNP and other bodies can prove that they insist on the highest standards of ethical behavior and operational excellence, it will prove that responsibility and accountability are an essential part of Korean nuclear power generation.”

Although it is undeniable that radioactive waste has the potential to bring great harm, it is just as undeniable that scientists know exactly how to deal with waste in order to keep it perfectly safe, says Lipman. Simply ensuring no contact with water and that it is kept in containers that can store waste for very long periods of time will suffice. Waste is moved from power plant in safe canisters and then buried underground in safe repositories. But the fact that scientists are convinced of the safety of radioactive waste is not enough, says Lipman.

He notes, “The science is actually pretty straightforward when it comes to nuclear waste. But the politics are a very different matter. Groups such as the NEI and the KHNP have no choice but to keep the dialogue going. We have to continue to try to educate people. We have to also continue with efforts to develop even more technology that can help offset the issue of nuclear waste.”

However, Lipman says that if he is certain of only one thing it is the need to keep spreading the message of the benefits of nuclear power. “You have to keep talking, that is the key,” he says. “You simply must do that. Even if you have to have a thousand similar conversations every day, the only way to break down prejudices on this matter is to keep the lines of communication wide open.”

Written by Lee Jae-seung

Edited by Tim Alper


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