[Peace-discuss] Venezuela freezes nuclear program after Japan disaster

[Robert Naiman]

Hugo Chavez says Venezuela putting nuclear plans on hold after crisis in Japan
http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/hugo-chavez-says-venezuela-putting-nuclear-plans-on-hold-after-crisis-in-japan/2011/03/15/AB7gCUb_story.html

Hugo Chavez says Venezuela putting nuclear plans on hold after crisis in Japan

By The Associated Press, Wednesday, March 16, 12:18 AM

CARACAS, Venezuela — President Hugo Chavez said Tuesday that the
crisis at a Japanese nuclear plant after the country’s catastrophic
earthquake and tsunami have prompted him to halt Venezuela’s plans to
develop nuclear energy.

Chavez announced last year that his government was carrying out
initial studies to start a nuclear energy program.

Russia’s government had agreed to help Venezuela build a reactor last
year during a visit to Moscow by Chavez. But Chavez said watching
events unfold in Japan has prompted him to reconsider.

“It’s something extremely risky and dangerous for the whole world
because despite the great technology and advances that Japan has, look
at what is happening with some nuclear reactors,” Chavez said in a
televised speech.

Chavez warned that radioactive material from Japan’s damaged plants
could pose a threat to neighbors such as China. “We pray to God
that... it doesn’t have serious impacts on the population of Japan and
other neighboring nations,” he said.

Chavez said he had ordered his vice president and energy minister to
“freeze the plans that we have been moving forward with, some very
preliminary studies” toward starting a nuclear program.

Chavez said he believes the problems at the Japanese nuclear reactors
will make other countries aside from Venezuela reconsider the need for
nuclear programs.

“I don’t have the slightest doubt that this will alter... in a strong
way nuclear energy development plans in the world,” Chavez said. He
also predicted that would increase demand for oil “in the short,
medium and long term.”

Venezuela is a major oil exporter.

-- 
Robert Naiman
Policy Director
Just Foreign Policy
www.justforeignpolicy.org
naiman at justforeignpolicy.org