Almost everything that
happens, happens somewhere. Knowing where something happens can be critically
important (Longley, Goodchild, 2011). As known nuclear power stations
are extremely dangerous kind of energy producing systems. They may destroy or
affect a whole city even a region and break down ecosystems and kill or injure
people in case of any explosion that happen to a nuclear plant. For example,
the Chernobyl accident had the largest short term release from a single source
of radioactive materials to the atmosphere ever recorded in 1986. In addition,
the accident affected three countries and influenced 2,448 103 people
surrounded (Jensen,1994). Therefore decision makers and environmental agencies
should consider those kind of dangers before decide correct place. Turkish
Energy and Natural Resources Minister has decided to establish two nuclear
energy plants where earthquake is low and close to sea. The Minister planned to
choose Mersin and Sinop (Map 1) provinces where have a cost with Mediterranean
and Black sea respectively (Radikal,2005). Because the nuclear power station
need to huge amount water to cool nuclear reactors. Thus generally nuclear
power plants are built near to rivers or seas. Actually these target provinces
are not new, the nuclear power plants have decided to construct in these areas
many times ego by politicians and decision makers.
Project designing and
processing of nuclear stations are required intensively and complex study with
high technological analysis. That’s also means the requirement of skilled and
experienced experts and labors. More importantly, the selection place and
Project designs, construction and processing have to be reliable and high
quality (Palabiyik, Yavas, Aydin,2010). However, Turkey can not afford to
construct these nuclear plants by it’s own human and technological sources
which have not enough developed yet. Thus, Turkey will have to be import
skilled labor and technology from developed countries notably Russia, Japan and
China. In May 2010 , between Turkey and the Russian Federation an agreement was
signed for the construction of nuclear power plants in Mersin-Akkuyu (Republic
Of Turkey,Energy And Natural Resources Minister,2010).
Globalization as contribution of the nuclear energy in
Turkey
According to
estimations, nuclear power plants will be expected to reach at least the level
of 5%. share of electricity consumption by 2020. Firstly, the reason why Turkish
government has strongly persisted on building nuclear power plant is Turkey has
influenced by global trend of nuclear energy, especially by France
and USA. Because , today, there are 441 nuclear reactors in operate in
the world, still 35 ones under construction. Nuclear power provides about 17%
of the world’s electricity (Duffy, 2004). For this reason, globalization is
the main reason that contribute Turkey to establish nuclear
energy power.
On other hand, nuclear
energy tends to be a show of force in terms of political and economical of
well-being. Generally, countries which have nuclear power stations are
developed countries such as, USA, Russia, Fransa and United Kingdom. The recent
Turkish government wants to be a super power in the Middle Eastern and North
Africa regions. Even though, Turkish government explained the nuclear energy
will be built only for energy production, but some groups claim the
nuclear energy plants may construct nuclear weapons.
Does Turkey Need Nuclear Power Energy ?
Secondly, as mentioned
above, Turkey has huge population, still growing very fast, and developing
industrial sector which both required huge amount of energy. As population
grows, the need of energy also increase in same time. In 2007 ,Turkey
consumed much energy that obtained from fossil fuels and it is approximately 90
%of total energy consumption and todays this proportion may slightly changed
(Graph 1). Unfortunately, in this proportion energy that imported is consisted
75 % of total energy consumption. Under that circumstances Turkey is obliged to
find other alternative energy supply. So,nuclear energy seems to be the
most convenient and efficiently energy producing way. Advantageously,
Turkey has rich resources of uranium which can support the nuclear energy
stations.
The cost of nuclear energy plants to local environments ?
Nuclear energy already
contributes to reducing greenhouse gas emissions (OECD, 2000), on other
hand, nuclear energy may not have an affect globally , but have a potential
danger over surrounding area.
As mentioned
before, Sinop and Mersin are cities that chosen for construction of
nuclear energy plants. Now, we start to take a look closely to Mersin and what
are cost of nuclear energy on this city. Also we begin to analyze impacts on
local people and environment as environmentalist perspective.
The nuclear energy
station will be built in the Akkuyu which is a small town of Mersin
province. Indeed, Akkuyu has been argued to be a place for construction
of nuclear energy plant since 1976. Now, a contract has signed between Turkey
and a Russian company to build the plant in the next few years.
The Natural Beauties of Akkuyu Town
Akkuyu is located in the
Mersin province in Mediterranean region of Turkey. The town is located 150 km
distance to west of Mersin city center. Akkuyu is located cost of sea
and far away from earthquake hazards so, that’s conditions make it a target
for nuclear energy plant. Generally, Nuclear plants need huge amount of water
to cool the station and machines. As result of that, wasted or used water
become warm and then this warm water released to back again. The most affected
environment will be the sea ecosystem cycle. That means, it will change
water temperature of coastal sea and may it will damage the fauna and flora
that living in the coastal area.
Moreover, the nuclear
power plant is planned to be built in the valley which has shaped by Zeytinçatağı
stream. This stream does not flow constantly through year , but during
the heavy rainy weather, discharge of stream increase and the water
stream is reaching to sea. Therefore, Zeytincatağı stream will be
contaminated by waste water of nuclear plant, sea water will be polluted
as well.
The Northeastern of Mediterranean
part is very rich in terms of fish feeding and breeding ecosystem zone.
Especially,Akkuyu has a bay which is a significant shelter for both fauna and
flora. The fish species that live in Akkuyu Bay will be decreased
or may go extinct. The fishery activities will decrease, it is directly will
affect the local people. The fishes and algeas are can not live in such a
heated water by Akkuyu nuclear energy station. For example, tuna fish can live
30 minutes in 28 C degree or can be alive 12 hours in 25 C
degree(Kilickaya,1996).
Local environment is
only not only will be harmed by warm water, but also fission activities will
damage the local environment and people. Because, fission activities can have
effect on atmosphere, water cycle,fauna, flora and local people (Kucuk and
Uzun, 1996).
The Northeastern of Mediterranean
part is very rich in terms of fish feeding and breeding ecosystem zone.
Especially,Akkuyu has a bay which is a significant shelter for both fauna and
flora. The fish species that live in Akkuyu Bay will be decreased
or may go extinct. The fishery activities will decrease, it is directly will
affect the local people. The fishes and algeas are can not live in such a
heated water by Akkuyu nuclear energy station. For example, tuna fish can live
30 minutes in 28 C degree or can be alive 12 hours in 25 C
degree(Kilickaya,1996).
Nuclear power station will not only affect Akkuyu
Town, bu also it may have impact upon Mersin Province which has approximately 1
million urban population (TUIK, 2009). Mersin province is one of the
major center of agricultural production owing to it’s mild climate and
productive soils. Mersin is producing main agricultural products of
Mediterranean climate such as, orange, limon, olive and vegetables. Agriculture
sector consists 30 % of the total income of Mersin. So, due to radioactive
wastes and chemical emissions that released by Akkuyu nuclear power station,
the local and regional agricultural activities will be diminished. The chemical
emissions will cause acidic rains which is main issue of damage crops and
reducing the farmland productivity. In this case, both natural environment and
humans will be in danger.
Cenk Levi who
Greenpeace Mediterranean Climate and Energy Campaign responsible, says that
Akkuyu nuclear power plant is just located near to Ecemis Fault Line which is
located North of Taurus Mountains (Greenpeace/Turkey,2012). The nuclear power
plants are very sensitive to earthquake even ultimate modern technology. For
example, Fukushima Nuclear disaster was a series of equipment failures, nuclear
meltdowns, and releases of radioactive materials at the Fukushima I Nuclear
Power Plant, following the Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami on 11 March 2011 (New
Zealand Herald,2011).In this situation, Akkuyu nuclear station will face with
same problem as Fukushima in case of a earthquake shaking. Even though,
government and experts say Akkuyu nuclear station is going to be steady and
safe, but on other hand, environmentalist experts there is no guarantee for any
nuclear plants against the earthquakes. Because a small nuclear emission can
destroy local fauna and flora , even local people by long process or in short
term.
Greenpeace
Mediterranean is one of big and influential environmentalist company that
against construction of Akkuyu Nuclear Energy Plants and also other plants that
planned to be built in further. The company asserts that Akkuyu and surrounding
area are very suitable for wind turbine generator systems. Because, the
region is permanently windy through year. Instead of nuclear power plant, the
government should establish wind turbines in the region.
Responses of local people to Akkuyu Nuclear Power Plant
According to surveys made by
environmentalist companies,in Akkuyu Town and surrounding young people who at
the age of work started to move to provincial centers or near districts such as
Alanya, Antalya and Mersin urban center due to nuclear threat coming in future.
Because they no longer feel safe in the town and about their children’s future.
20 years ego Akkuyu had wide
farmlands and farmer sell their crops to surrounding cities. But now, due to
migration of young people, the demography of town has changed, therefore
agricultural and husbandry in the town considerably have reduced. Because there
are no people to work in farmlands and look for the animals. Mostly old people
who can not work live in the town, as result of that, unemployment rate have
increased in the recent years. Today, local people start to grow crop for their
own needs.
Like most coastal cities near
to Mediterranean Sea, Akkuyu has natural beauties and beaches which is a great
potential for toursim activities. Local people want to use this opportunity and
request investments to tourism in the town. They do not want a nuclear power
plant that will prevent to tourism.
One third of farmlands
of town has taken by government for last 30 years in order to build
nuclear energy plant (Greenpeace/ Mediterranean,2010). State have not allowed
to local people to use this area. That means local people have not able
to grown crops or use in other activities for 30 years. Because of that local
people and also regional people have damaged economically even before
construction of nuclear station.
To date, many environmentalist
movements and local people have protested against the Akkuyu Nuclear Plant many
times. Main ecologists and environmentalist companies like Mediterranean
Greenpeace and Turkey Combating Soil Erosion, Reforestation and the Protection
of Values Foundation (TEMA) have challenged against the nuclear energy. They
say that we do not want to Akkuyu be like Chernobyl.
In conclusion
Turkey is a huge country
with high energy consumption, fast growing population and industrialized
economy. Therefore,Turkey need a huge energy production that can meet
consumption. As result trend of global movement of countries over nuclear
energy, Turkish government has tried to establish nuclear energy plants
last decades. Unfortunately, these nuclear energy stations will damage the
local people and local natural environment, also will be risk for surrounding
towns and region. Even now, Akkuyu Nuclear Power Plant has already started to
affect the local people in Akkuyu Town in terms of economical and demographical
problems.
