Light and Shadow: Uranium in Nuclear Energy

Jorge de Luna

In the 1970s, Mexico paved the way to harness the potential source of electricity provided by uranium, which had already been utilized 30 years prior by the United States, the former Soviet Union (now Russia), and the United Kingdom, first in the atomic bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Japan, and later in the production of reactors for nuclear energy generation.

Mexico entered the realm of nuclear energy production in a timely manner with the construction of two reactors in Laguna Verde, Veracruz, which currently supply only 2 percent of the national electricity. It could be more, but investment in reactors has stagnated for 40 years, as pointed out by Gustavo Alonso Vargas, a researcher at the Escuela Superior de Física y Matemáticas (ESFM) of the Instituto Politécnico Nacional (IPN).

"Nuclear energy is clean because it does not produce harmful gases. It is safe because reactors are designed to prevent accidents, and if they do occur, they are mitigated to ensure no consequences for the population," he stated.

Uranium, the only natural element with 92 protons, can be viewed from two angles: one is the shadow of death that marked the end of the Cold War, and the second is the reduction to zero carbon emissions in nuclear energy generation to combat climate change and global warming, which according to environmentalists and scientists, are the current threats most menacing to humanity.

From an economic development and sustainability perspective, planet Earth now more than ever requires nuclear energy for the future. In the era of globalization and high societal demands, the production of clean and affordable energy is essential.

Dr. Alonso Vargas, a member of the American Nuclear Society, emphasized, "What drives a country's economy is having reliable and inexpensive energy sources that can make you competitive."

Currently, Mexico is a net importer of natural gas. Although the country still has oil, it is not a gas producer, and it currently imports over 60 percent of the gas it consumes. The nation has reverted to using fuel oil and coal (imported) to generate 8 percent of its national electricity. Therefore, the IPN researcher suggested that one of the alternatives is to pursue nuclear energy.

"It's part of the path. One element alone is not the panacea. We always need to diversify. For residential use, let's harness the sun. How many buildings can't have solar panels? Wind, let's explore wind energy. Mexico has the resources, sites, and potential. Let's take advantage!" he exclaimed.

He explained that Japan had combined cycle gas plants for electricity generation, mainly used as backup. However, they had to run them full-time to compensate for the shutdown of the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant due to the tsunami, resulting in very high energy costs and loss of competitiveness. As a result, they had to return to nuclear energy and now have more than half of their reactors in operation.

The ESFM graduate highlighted that a nation relies on certain natural resources to produce energy. Countries rich in water have built many dams because most of the energy they generate is hydroelectric. Others, like China, have coal, and 90 percent of their electricity is based on combined cycle gas plants. Nevertheless, they are also investing in nuclear energy.

"China is very aggressive in the use of nuclear energy; they currently have over 30 reactors in operation and aim to reach over 100," he stressed. The United States has the most nuclear reactors, with 20 percent of its electrification depending on them.

70 Years of Nuclear Energy "The fear and negative perception that resulted from the Chernobyl plant accident in 1986 deterred governments from investing in nuclear energy due to concerns about radiation exposure to the population. However, this is a myth regarding catastrophic consequences," Dr. Alonso Vargas informed.

He also pointed out that in 70 years of nuclear energy, there have been three accidents with levels above 6: the tsunami with 9-meter waves that occurred on March 11, 2011, damaging several nuclear reactors at the Fukushima Daiichi plant; the incident at the Three Mile Island nuclear plant, United States (1979), and Windscale Piles, United Kingdom (1957), where radioactive material was released into the environment after a core reactor fire.

"In a nuclear reactor, it must be ensured that the coolant keeps circulating, and this failed on Three Mile Island. We learn from mistakes. New regulations were introduced. In this case, there was no release of radiation to the outside, no one died from radiation or any other cause. However, there was a significant economic loss because the reactor ceased operations," he commented.

Dr. Alonso Vargas, who also holds a doctorate from Texas A&M University in the United States, explained that new regulations have been introduced, and producing countries must have an institute to monitor reactor operations safely.

"The role of regulatory bodies in all countries with nuclear energy is not to promote nuclear energy or generate more electricity but to ensure the safety of the general public, prevent harm from reactor operation, and enforce all standards," he noted.

Nuclear energy can be obtained in two ways: nuclear fusion (energy is released when atomic nuclei combine to form a larger nucleus; this is how the Sun produces energy) and nuclear fission (nuclei are split to form smaller nuclei, releasing energy; nuclear power plants use nuclear fission to produce electricity).

Source: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

Selección Gaceta Politécnica #165. (August 31st, 2023). IPN Imagen Institucional: Read the full magazine in Spanish here