Dear Editor,

The recent all-island power outage must be a wake-up call for Jamaicans. The nation runs almost entirely on imported oil. This leaves our electricity bills at the mercy of others and global oil prices.

We need to ask: Has anyone seriously considered nuclear reactors to generate electricity right here at home? We already have the starting point. The University of the West Indies (UWI) has operated a research reactor for decades. It means local expertise exists. The US Navy’s aircraft carrier
USS Nimitz runs 20 to 25 years on one nuclear fuel load without refuelling. If it works at sea, the model is worth studying on land.

Yes, nuclear plants cost more upfront than oil plants. Nuclear power per kilowatt-hour is much cheaper than oil over the life of the plant. France gets about 60 per cent of its electricity from nuclear and keeps costs stable. We can learn from that.

Right now all our eggs are in the oil basket. We should phase in nuclear, 10 per cent at a time, as part of a diversified mix with solar, coal, gas, and oil. No single source, no single investor.

Over time we could aim for 60 per cent nuclear. This would cut electricity costs and make Jamaica more competitive globally. The UWI reactor shows we’re not starting from zero. We should study it, scale the lessons, and make nuclear part of our strategic energy plan.

Energy sovereignty is the goal.

Michael Spence

micspen2@hotmail.com