Nuclear energy has long been considered a great way to generate power for the lights and heating and cooling systems we use at our homes. It can generate electricity without greenhouse gas emissions. However, after a few terrible disasters in Nuclear power plants around the world, people have become more aware that, when not treated carefully, nuclear power poses rather a significant threat to our way of life. There also have been safety and health concerns involved in storing nuclear radioactive waste. Usually, when nuclear waste is disposed, it is put into storage containers made of steel that is then placed inside a further cylinder made of concrete. These protective layers prevent the radiation from getting outside and harming the atmosphere …show more content…
Storage: Many different storage methods have been discussed throughout history, with very few being implemented because of the problematic nature of storing such hazardous material that will remain radioactive for thousands of years. Only one was implemented – ocean disposal was actually used by thirteen different countries and was the method of dumping radioactive waste into the oceans in order to get rid of it.
3. Effects on Nature: One of the biggest concerns that the world has with the disposal of nuclear waste is the affect the hazardous materials could have on animals and plant life.
Although most of the time the waste is well sealed inside huge drums of steel and concrete, sometimes accidents can happen. Nuclear waste can have drastically bad effects on life, causing cancerous growths or genetic problems. Not disposing of nuclear waste properly can therefore have huge environmental impacts that can harm many millions of animals and hundreds of animal species.
Electricity consumption in South Africa has been growing rapidly since 1980 and the country is part of the Southern African Power Pool (SAPP), with extensive interconnections. Total installed generating capacity in the SAPP countries is about 55 GWe, of which some 80%