shire miners who are sponsors and co-founders Energy 2000, which is an umbrella organisation developed to co-ordinate the efforts of the various anti-nuclear power groups which exist in Britain today.
The main argument for developing and extending the nuclear neet the energy demand of ou ation, particularly between 1980 ind the year 2000 There CoNs speculation • and of the centre gap we can continue to extend in Technical expertise I reject both these argument ing there will be a continued increase in energy demand.
have sufficient alterna tive fuel available to fill any emergy gap which may develop in sive investment presently bring Jumped into suclear energy industries.
2. We do not need to extend from is present 1 are vur suclear energy of eletricity geseration to the antici ated 40% to keep pace techne logicallyThe ear power is not for one exper mental power sintion, His for be widespread application muclear power through an extensave system or maccar power Isuhmit there is no need for a nuclear power programme to MEC Britain's cocies demand over the next 50 to 100 years. The evidence available, in my confirms that it would be disaster for human life if the nuclear power programme allowed to continue. develop anc expand: 1 am sure it will be con coded that, provided we can meet the coerey demands of-Britain decision can be postponed without any detrimental effect CHEL LEETDDTCOUS Britain.
The many and varied reasons for opposition to nuclear power trom a saicty point or vice wi terest and it does bot regent ventilated otbier IDE matter.
I will confine my evidence ta demonstrate to this inquiry thar TCHING SIC LICIAL BECA our demands in Britain over the next 50 to 100 years whilst we develop new sources of energy, u particular solar power which, l firmly believe. he enery mute. will only reler 1 muclear power, therefore, insolar as it is directly connected with the Dont L am bade because other witnesses will dealing. depth, with the various safety LICENS of of view. future demand in Britain, HE Ceral considering future expert 1. To analyse THe CaNCEL DECICE demand since the second world war and project on ibe basis of altavailane evidence the expect all ed demand minimums hetween now and the and THE CANS NARMERACED half of the 21st century. 2. It is then essentinl to examine of available to see if we can meet energy this projected demand, Energy Consumption In 1976, the total energy sumed in million tons of coal equivalent. If ener we anticipate terrupted growth rare in energ consumption of 29t per annum it energ tbe valent I think it is necessary to state, quite firmly, thar the total emerk: maninsuns year 2000 could, if there is a will and determination to do so, be ticularly ail and mat wral gas.
Lis true chat the level of o a the year ending March 1971 the million tons out 324.3 million tons of 324.] demand. LE 15 however, Vindscale Inqui has beer abbreviated slightly for reasons of sрace.)
The photograph above shows how neclear power-stations were defended in West Germany, when 55,000 people marched against it eurlier this year. Similar demonstradons took place in Prance a few weeks ag und in Australia Iast week over 50,000 marched against the Friser government's decision to celse nrasinm for export. Simliar developments can be expected in Britain If government policy remains unchunged annual unin recently as 1959, of coal by the year 2000 oF this time al date lechniques Bow now and the Nationa! industr of a total energ power employed. important Board that Britain was producing over 200 million tons We should not forget that the coal mining industry at was an inoust our pared with the positiated when CLEArE EME CRIS also a period which saw wide- 1977 spread pit closures and the rever Board and Goverament were concerned, In 1957 the coal industry pro duced 223,6 million tons and during the following year, witnessed a rapid decline in terms of coal production, the numbe I TOLIETS DOCINE HE TIME IF the Caa produced the saIse amount today as was produced I OBl Gus 1957, it would be sufficient to mete new and le sar meet the exoccret In the period when Pet from 2216 million tons to Tie. mamon tons, outpu per manshift rocketed from 24.4 to 43.6 cats. in March There are sufficient coal rebased on current suminion rates to last tor a mimiProbaby, we year yes, 11 of 300 and, most unclassified coal reserves chat exist in Britain today, the total CouLd be Egac It can be seen from this that if we were to increase pual produc and mast, piay inçir pan a tuc and y also recognise that yel requirements of Brinin industry on like a tap.
(here has been criminal negler a terios of investment in ch British coal industry and tb effect of this was felt severely in the perlod 1974 75/76 when the oil crisis biterally doubled Britain's - balance ol The overwhelming need, how ever, la for a planned energ nrogramme which recornises th part cach fuel industry has lo play in the overall energy pattem for Britain durine ibe course 0i the next 50-100 years.
There has to be synonymous development in the market to coal, and power station developmust correspond to tbe kind of plan I have outlined to this Inquir: demand for energy by 1980 being In overall terms in the region of 351 million tons of coal equivalent.
With proper investment there is no reason why the coal industry should not produce 170 million Cons oy thas LIBI This means there should be no pit closures. This will preserve million people without work We should, by 1980, be able to produce Pay mion tons or col 50 million tons of gas and 2 million tons of bydrowhich would meet the energ demand.
The significant feature of this projection is that it completely eliminates tbe need for nuclear energy whatsoever, and 1 MOLE DE LYICH WHUH sideration should be given to terminating the nuclear prog ramme, and phasing the present stations out.
By the year 2000, I estimate that the 525 million tons required can be supplied in the following way:
Coul 250m. Bons 100m 25m.
Hydro-Electricih Wind, wave, tide, sethermal 5m.
(with proper investment 25m. tons coal equivalen In ocher words we can supply al the energy we require without having to resort to nuclear power generation. There is a built-in guarantee insofar as coal could jected 250 million tonsifany of the other sources of energy produce what is indicated; or If we decide we want to lower the coo sumption rate on oil and/or gas in order to preserve thems over s longer period should be remembered thi ven with an annual productic year webave sufficient reserves on a conservative estimate for well i excessol 200 years.
The cost of this programme 1 sometlung which can he predicted ATTA TENSINUE BATTAL OT like the cost of a nuclear powe which has to take INTO SOCOLTE THE MOSTER EL CI af waste disposal, armed per sonnel to protect the plutonium SULU the massive research and develop programme over man)
SOCIALIST CHALLENGE 1 September 1977 Page 14
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