A joint working group between Cambodia and Russia held its first meeting in Phnom Penh to explore the possibilities of using “atomic energy for peaceful purposes,” said the statement, quoting Minister of Environment Say Samal.
According to the statement, the Russian ambassador to Cambodia, Dmitry Tsvetkov, and representatives of the Russian corporation Rosatom were also present at the meeting.
In June, memorandums of understanding (MoUs) were signed between the Council for the Development of Cambodia and Rosatom for the creation of a nuclear information center, and the creation of a joint working group for the development of nuclear energy in Cambodia. These MoUs were inked following Prime Minister Hun Sen’s official state visit to Moscow in May.
“Cambodia needs to meet future energy demands and achieve energy security while supporting global efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions that cause climate change,” said the statement.
“For these reasons, our government is exploring alternative energy sources, in particular hydro, solar and biomass. We have also started to discuss the possibility of benefiting from nuclear energy in the longer term. We are also interested in nuclear technology for its many applications in healthcare, industry, agriculture, and other sectors of the economy,” it added.
Om Romny, director general of the Institute of Technology of Cambodia said that the nuclear information center will provide an opportunity for Cambodian students and researchers to learn more about the benefits of nuclear power and its uses for “peaceful purposes.”
“Cambodia needs more technical experts in the atomic sector and this joint cooperation with Russia will be a good opportunity for more training to be done,” said Mr. Romny.
Not all, however, welcomed this joint Cambodia-Russia cooperation to develop a nuclear power plant in the Kingdom.
Sophal Ear, associate professor of diplomacy and world affairs at Occidental College in Los Angeles, California, told Khmer Times Cambodia does not yet have the expertise to use nuclear power with caution.
“Even Japan, with all its technology could not control the Fukushima disaster and we are far behind Japan. So what makes us so different?” he asked.
Mr. Sophal, who is also the author of “Aid Dependence in Cambodia: How Foreign Assistance Undermines Democracy,” said atomic power had its pros and cons.
“It doesn’t produce carbon emissions, but it does produce nuclear waste that cannot be gotten rid of easily and lasts hundreds of years.”
Source: Khmer Times | 18 August 2016
