Uranium: The Myth of Clean Air - CO2

1. Uranium: The Myth of Clean Air – CO2
Production in the Nuclear Fuel Cycle
Presented by:
Dr. Bremley W. B. Lyngdoh
Columbia University, New York
London School of Economics, London
Red Room, Klima Forum
Copenhagen, 17th December 2009

2. Overview
 Context: nuclear power and climate change
 Climate change: sources and impacts
 Nuclear fuel cycle: energy inputs
 Core issue of uranium mining
 Comparisons between nuclear and other energy
technologies
 Alternatives to nuclear power generation
 Rio Agenda 21 of UNCED 1992
 United Nations Millennium Assembly 2000
 Supreme Court of India ruling
 Conclusions and actions
 World Uranium Hearing 1992

3. Nuclear Power and Climate Change
In the face of growing energy-related problems such as global warming,
acid rain and local air pollution, nuclear power is being promoted by the
industry and some governments as a clean source of energy which could
help to reduce energy related human impact on the environment.
While at Columbia University I did some research on the threat of
Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) on the earth’s atmosphere and
found that nuclear states pump out much more carbon dioxide and other
harmful ozone depleting gases and substances into the atmosphere than
non-nuclear states.
Therefore I concluded that nuclear energy couldn’t be the answer for
global warming either, as the dollar invested in end-use energy efficiency
displaces nearly seven times more carbon that a dollar invested in
nuclear power.

4. American National Energy Policy
“…Nuclear power today accounts for 20 percent of our
country’s electricity. This power source, which causes no
greenhouse gas emissions, can play an expanding part in
our energy future….”
“… nuclear power plants serve millions of American homes
and businesses, have a dependable record for safety and
efficiency, and discharge no greenhouse gases into the
atmosphere….”
Source: National Energy Policy (Cheney task force, 2001)

5. Indian National Energy Policy
The Chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission said,
“Large scale development of nuclear power is essential for
India’s long-term energy security, as domestic reserves of
hydrocarbon fuels can sustain our energy needs only for a
short time, and we cannot depend on imports.”
He advocated the development of technology to use the
vast reserves of Thorium, and that India having one-sixth of
global population, should have an access to one-sixth of
global energy which can be ensured through development
of Thorium based nuclear power.
The Principal Scientific adviser to Government of India
said, “India with 17 per cent of global population consumes
only 3 per cent of its energy and the country had to
develop alternatives to hydrocarbon-based energy.”

6. Shift in Indian nuclear policy
Retired Captain J. Rama Rao from the Indian Navy argues
that after the second round of nuclear tests at Pokharan,
there has been radical shift from the past, in which India
has often been seen as a leader in the cause of nuclear
abolition.
He states that underlying this shift are two premises:
namely that nuclear weapons are legitimate instruments of
war; and India needs them for its security.
Both violate the Indian stand on this issue for five decades
- namely that nuclear weapons, being particularly
horrifying weapons of mass destruction.
Since Pokharan, the somewhat desperate tests were
carried out by Pakistan in response.

7. Threat of Terrorism in a Nation
From experience working in very poor countries in Asia,
Africa and South America, I have seen that it is the
forces of poverty and environmental degradation that
give rise to sense of deprivation, hopelessness,
intolerance and hatred.
These desperate people can resort to desperate
solutions. Intolerance also has its role. It can, in the
name of religion or ideology, fan the flames of hate and
ignite a belief that terrorism is the only solution to a
community’s or nation’s ills.
The Nation will have to guard against these internal root
causes, but nuclear weapons are no solution. On the
contrary they only aggravate the situation much more.

8. Hague Appeal for Peace May 1999
The nuclear bomb is the most anti-democratic, anti-national,
anti-human, outright evil thing that man has ever made. If you
are religious, then remember that this bomb is Man's
challenge to God.
It's worded quite simply: We have the power to destroy
everything that You have created. If you're not (religious), then
look at it this way. This world of ours is four thousand, six
hundred million years old. It could end in an afternoon.

9. 2000 Walk for Nuclear Disarmament
In July 8, 1996, the International Court of Justice said, "The threat
or use of nuclear weapons would generally be contrary to the rules
of international humanitarian law..."
In a situation where a country is breaking international law then the
Nuremberg Principles take effect. It basically states that if a country
is not following United Nations laws it is every citizen's responsibility
to stop its government from breaking these laws.

10. Betrayal of Gandhian Principles
Looking at our country I can sense the gigantic betrayal of Gandhian
principles that has taken place and people are questioning the
priorities of a government that seems to have taken leave of reality.
Even though many people (predominantly urban elites) are pro-
bomb, the authorities are careful to support the myth of the 'peaceful'
atom. As everywhere, nuclear power is justified because it provides
electricity for economic development.
The basic question is do we really need the generating capacity to
be doubled to 200,000 MW during next 10 to 20 years and raise the
nuclear power generation to 20,000 MW from the present level of
2,700 MW?
Well I think that the breeding ground for nuclear power is the inflated
demand projections and the system inefficiencies.

11. Five Nuclear Myths
 Economically viable
 Safe
 Sustainable
 Vital contributor to national energy supply
 Climate-friendly

12. Typical Characterization of CO2
Emissions – at power plant

13. Typical Characterization CO2
emissions – from fuel cycle
Source: World Nuclear Association (http://www.world-nuclear.org/co2&nfc.htm#%5Bref4%5D)

14. Why is CO2 in the Nuclear Fuel
Cycle Important?
 Typically, key issues have revolved around:
Nuclear Waste
Environmental costs
Children’s health
Safety
Sustainability
Weapons proliferation
 Today, increasing concern in energy policy about
options to limit GHG emissions that can cause climate
change – nuclear power touted as a solution

15. The Greenhouse Effect
Incoming solar Radiated out
radiation to space
Absorbed in atmosphere
by greenhouse gases
Infra-red
radiation
from surface

17. Changes in
Carbon Stocks,
1850-1995
(WRI, 1998)
The Sum of All
Carbon Releases
from 1850-1995
Less Carbon
Absorbed During
that Period

18. Expected Impacts of Climate Change
 Warming: Heat waves and periods of unusually warm
weather
 Sea level rise: In Recife, Brazil, shoreline has receded by
more than 2.4m/yr since 1985, due to sea level rise and loss
of sediment supply)
 Glaciers melting: Europe's Alpine glaciers have lost half
their volume since 1850. US Government predicts no
glaciers left in Montana's Glacier National Park by 2030
 Human Health: Weather related mortality, infectious
disease, decreasing air quality - respiratory illnesses

20. Sources of CO2 in the Nuclear Fuel
Cycle
 CO2 is emitted at every stage of the 7 stages of the
nuclear fuel cycle
Uranium mining
Uranium milling
Uranium conversion
Enrichment
Fabrication into fuel rods
Reactor operations
Waste disposal

21. Nuclear Fuel Cycle

22. Mining and milling
 Uranium is usually mined by either
surface (open cut) or underground
mining techniques and sent to a
mill usually located close to the
mine.
 At the mill, uranium ore is crushed
and ground to a fine slurry which is
leached in sulfuric acid to allow the Energy Intensity of Ore Mining
separation of uranium from the
3,000
waste rock. It is then recovered
Energy Intensity (TJ/kt)
2,500
from solution and precipitated as
uranium oxide (U308) concentrate. 2,000
1,500
 Mining and milling operations
produce CO2 associated with use 1,000
of diesel, natural gas & electricity. 500
 Uranium mining is one of the most 0
Iron Nickel- Gold Uranium
CO2 intensive industrial operations copper

23. Core issues of uranium mining
 Uranium and its decay products buried deep in the earth
are brought to surface.
 Radon gas produced in the mine causes lung cancer.
 Leftover piles of materials or ‘uranium tailings’ contain
over a dozen radioactive materials.
 There is no perfect storage of these radioactive
materials to prevent them from finding their way into the
soil, water, plants, animals, fish and humans.
 According to the latest available facts admitted to by
British Nuclear Regulatory Board, there is no such thing
as a ‘safe dose’ of nuclear radiation.

24. Conversion
 Uranium needs to be in form
of a gas before it can be
enriched, the uranium oxide
(U308) is converted into the
gas uranium hexafluoride
(UF6) at a conversion plant
 UF6 is then pressurized/cooled to a liquid, drained
into 14-ton cylinders where it solidifies, then shipped
to an enrichment plant.
 Conversion operations produce CO2 associated with
electricity and diesel for transport to enrichment
plant.

25. Enrichment
 Transforming
uranium ore into
enriched fuel pellets
in very energy
intensive
 Enrichment process
is principally gaseous
diffusion of uranium
hexaflouride gas
 Enrichment operations produce CO2 associated with
electricity use. It is the overwhelming majority of the energy
input to the nuclear fuel cycle.

26. Fuel fabrication
 Enriched uranium
hexafluoride (UF6) is
transported to a fuel
fabrication plant where it is
converted to uranium dioxide
(UO2) powder and pressed
into small pellets.
 Fuel is transported to power
plants using all major
transportation modes (rails,
water, trucks)
 Fuel fabrication produce CO2 emissions through electricity
and the diesel fuel used in transport to the fuel fabrication
and reactor sites

27. Reactor Operations
 As in fossil-fuel burning
electricity generating
plants, heat is generated
to produce steam to drive
a turbine and an electric
generator.
 Reactor operations produce CO2 emissions through routine
fossil fuel use in emergency diesel generator testing, diesel
fire pump testing, and house heating boiler testing

28. Spent fuel storage
 Spent fuel
assemblies taken
from the reactor core
are highly radioactive
and stored in special
ponds.
 Spent fuel is stored in these ponds for long periods. It can
also be dry stored in engineered facilities, cooled by air. Both
kinds of storage are intended as an interim step before final
disposal.
 Storage operations require electricity

29. Breakdown of CO2 emissions in
nuclear fuel cycle
10%
Enrichment stage
other stages of nuclear fuel cycle
(mining, milling, transport,
conversion, fabrication, reactor
operations)
90%

30. Comparison of Electricity Fuel
Cycle CO2 Emissions
Fuel Cycle CO2 Emissions
500
400
grams CO2 per kWh
300
200
100
0
NGCC wind Hydro nuclear
Source: Oko-Institute for wind, nuclear, hydro; Tellus institute for NGCC

31. Fuel Cycle CO2 Emissions from
U. S. Power Plants in 2000
Comparison of CO2 emission from Fuel used to Produce Electricity, 2000
100
Million tonnes of CO2
80
60
40
20
0
Nuclear power plants Oil-fired power plants Natural Gas-fired power plants
Source: AEO2003 for NG and Oil, adjusted for fuel cycle, Oko-
Institute for nuclear studies

32. Comparison of Electricity Fuel Cycle
CO2 Emissions - Alternatives
Comparison of Fuel Cycle CO2 Emissions from
Alternative Sources
Nuclear power
Hydropower
Wind power
Wood gas cogeneration
Biogas cogeneration
-500 -400 -300 -200 -100 0 100
grams CO2 per kWh
Source: Oko-Institute

33. Renewable Energy Alternatives
India says 50,000 MW of power can be harnessed from solar, wind
and other renewable sources. In 1996, the value of the renewable
energy sector was $555 million and a U.S. report says solar energy
is growing at 28% per annum in India, and wind at 22%.
Annual sales of Photo Voltaic cells are $83 million and $278 million
for wind. Grid-quality power generation from renewable energies has
attained maturity in the past 7 years, and 7% of new additions to
generating capacity will come from renewable energy technologies.
The potential of Renewable Energy in India is huge and the
estimated aggregated potential for these energy resources is about
130,000 MW. In addition, there is a large potential of solar energy for
power generation and thermal applications. The estimated potential
for the installation of biogas plants is 12 million and that of improved
cook-stoves is 120 million in the country.

34. Rio Agenda 21 from UNCED 1992
Chapter 9 of Agenda 21 on Protecting the Atmosphere:
“Energy is essential to economics and social development and
improved quality of life. Much of the world’s energy, however, is
currently produced and consumed in ways that cannot be sustained, if
technology were to remain constant and if overall quantities were to
increase substantially. The need to control atmospheric emissions of
greenhouse and other gases and substances will need to be based on
efficiency in energy production, transmission, distribution and
consumption; and on growing reliance on environmentally sound
systems, particularly newer and renewable sources of energy.”
Chapter 25 of Agenda 21 on Youth and Sustainable Development:
“Governments should ensure access for all youth to all types of
education, wherever appropriate, providing alternative learning
structures, ensure education that reflects the economic and social
needs of the youth and incorporates the concepts of environmental
awareness and sustainable development.”

35. U. N. Millennium Assembly 2000
While addressing the United Nations Millennium Assembly at the
United Nations headquarters in New York on September 28, 2000
as India’s Official Youth Ambassador appointed by the Prime
Minister as part of the Parliamentary Delegation, a call was made
to world leaders gathered in the chamber of the General Assembly
to implement Agenda 21 at the national and local level by including
young people as equal partners in their decision-making processes
in creating green jobs through clean and safe renewable energy.

36. Supreme Court of India ruling!
In response to the Writ Petition (C) No. 188 of 1999 filed by Dr. B. L.
Wahdera against the DAE and UCIL, the Supreme Court order that
came out on April 15, 2004 states:
“In view of the affidavit, filed on behalf of respondent No. 3-Chairman,
Atomic Energy Commission, that adequate steps have been taken to
check and contain the radiation arising out of the uranium waste, we
do not find any merit in the petition. It is, accordingly dismissed.”
Well you see that there is no mention at all in the ruling, which
guarantees that uranium mining is safe. As a matter of fact it is clear
that the Apex Court has taken into consideration that there are indeed
dangers arising out of the uranium waste. It seems that in 5 years
adequate steps that have been taken by the DAE and UCIL to check
and contain such radiation have satisfied the Apex Court.

37. Tribal law ban uranium mining
In New Mexico and Arizona, Navajo Nation President Joe Shirley, Jr.
signed what is believed to be the first Native American tribal law,
banning uranium mining and milling on April 29, 2005. As amended by
the Navajo Nation Council during floor debate, the act states:
"No person shall engage in uranium mining and processing on any
sites within Navajo Indian Nation."
The law is based on the Fundamental Laws of the Diné, which are
already codified in Navajo statutes. The act finds that based on those
fundamental laws:
"certain substances in the Earth that are harmful to the people should
not be disturbed, and that the people now know that uranium is one
such substance, and therefore, that its extraction should be avoided
as traditional practice and prohibited by Navajo law."

38. Conclusions and Actions
 Nuclear energy cause the release of significant
amounts of CO2
 Other technologies are available which can
provide the same service and at lower CO2
emission levels
 How to get involved:
Conserve electricity and water resources
Join local and national campaigns that say NO to
uranium mining and nuclear energy
Reach out to the villages and create awareness about
dangers of uranium mining and milling
Lobby state/central legislation to invest more on
renewable energy power generation

39. World Uranium Hearing 1992
Together we say:
No more exploitation of lands and peoples by uranium
mining, nuclear power generation, nuclear testing,
and radioactive waste dumping.
Clean up and restore all homelands:
End the secrecy and fully disclose all information about
the nuclear industry and its dangers.
Provide full and fair compensation for damage to:
Peoples, families and communities,cultures and
economies, homelands, water, air and all things
living.

40. Join us!
Provide independent and objective monitoring of
human health and the well-being of all living things
affected by the nuclear chain.
Further we say:
In view of the unity of humanity and the world, we
appeal on behalf of our future generations to use
sustainable, renewable and life-enhancing energy
alternatives.
We call on the whole world, in particular leaders and
scientists to share in our vision for peace, harmony
and respect for life.
Join us!

41. Thank you very much
Khublei Shibun!