Nuclear Energy Board

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The Nuclear Energy Board^[1] (NEB) was an Irish agency charged with developing nuclear power in Ireland. It was established in Ireland on November 30, 1973 by the Nuclear Energy (An Bord Fuinnimh Núicléigh) Act, 1971.

The board was responsible in the 1970s for pursuing the policy of developing a nuclear power station, which was to be located at Carnsore Point, County Wexford. This policy ultimately failed and the board gradually faded from public attention, eventually concentrating on nuclear-related environmental reports, in any case it was not a large organisation, with the Electricity Supply Board doing most operational work.

Nuclear power

Planning

In 1968 because Ireland's economic development required more energy production the Electricity Supply Board was evaluating ways of diversifying its electricity generation. The Turlough Hill project had just commenced and this was one of the most prestigious engineering projects since the foundation of the state and the Shannon hydroelectric scheme. In the 1970s this need for new energy sources became more urgent, especially after the 1973 energy crisis, in 1975 Bord Gáis was established in order to develop Kinsale gas field, this find four years earlier initially slowed the nuclear energy project as it was hoped it may be an alternative. However, in 1974 planning permission was sought for four reactors with County Wexford County Council, with one to be built immediately, most likely of pressurized water reactor design.

Uncertainty

The economic slowdown of 1974 and 1975 again saw the project been temporarily put on hold, but when Desmond O'Malley became the new Minister for Industry, Commerce and Energy in 1977 the project once again became a priority of government policy, this time the plans becoming more serious and controversial, the government wanted to build a 650 MW plant at Carnsore at a cost of £350 million (Punt) at the then prices. In 1979 the project was again postponed, with the change in government, as George Colley, Minister for Energy became the new minister in charge of the project. The incident at Three Mile Island, in the USA was the background to this decision, also Friends of the Earth and other groups lobbied intensively against the plans. Finally in 1981 the Electricity Supply Board and the then government announced it was no longer national policy.

Cancellation

Ultimately the board was remembered for plans put on and off hold, and immense controversy. Also there was criticism that the government overestimated the need of energy in Ireland in the future, at one point it was estimated that industry would consume 57% of energy by 1990, internationally this is rather large as 40% is a typical value. However Ireland in the 1970s was regarded as being in a dangerous position whereby 75% of energy needs were met by oil, and European Economic Community policy was to reduce this below 50% by 1985, after two energy crises.

Aftermath

After 1981 the Nuclear Energy Board was not immediately abolished, instead rather than becoming nuclear advocate the board became redefined in a new role as an environmentalist. The board sponsored a number of reports, in particular on the Sellafield plant which has long been a source of dispute between Ireland and the United Kingdom.

Finally on 1 April 1992 the successor to the board was established, the Radiological Protection Institute of Ireland. The production of electricity for supply to the national grid, by nuclear fission, is currently prohibited under Electricity Regulation Act, 1999 (Section 18).

References

Nuclear Energy Board Final Report 1973-1992, Dublin 1992.

Footnotes

1. The Nuclear Energy Board was officially titled "An Bord Fuinnimh Núicléigh", in the Irish language, however invariably the English language title—though unofficial—was used in practice.