Venezuela freezes nuclear power plan
March 17th, 2011 - 11:57 am ICT by IANSCaracas, March 17 (IANS/EFE) Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez has announced a freeze in plans to develop nuclear power in the country due to the crisis at a nuclear plant in earthquake-stricken Japan.
“I ordered … freeze (on) the plans we’ve been moving forward on…for the peaceful Venezuelan nuclear programme,” Chavez said.
The president said while the magnitude of the crisis at Japan’s Fukushima plant was still not precisely known, the events would certainly alter worldwide plans regarding nuclear energy production.
“It’s very sad what has been seen, a tragedy, a catastrophe. What’s happening in the last few hours is absolutely risky and dangerous for the entire world,” he said.
The nuclear crisis “will give a greater impulse to resorting to petroleum”.
Venezuela has offered help to Japan after the magnitude-9 quake and accompanying tsunami caused over 5,000 deaths.
There have been explosions at three reactors in Japan’s Fukushima nuclear plant while a fire engulfed a fourth reactor. The country’s nuclear experts are trying to cool down the reactors to prevent a nuclear meltdown.
–IANS/EFE
pm/rd
- Mexico says it n-plant is safe - Mar 18, 2011
- Chavez returns to Cuba for treatment - Jul 18, 2011
- Venezuela to invest $45 bn to build, maintain refineries - Oct 01, 2011
- Diplomat's expulsion: Venezuela to close Miami consulate - Jan 14, 2012
- Chavez heads back to Venezuela - Mar 17, 2012
- Venezuela nationalises steelmaker - Nov 02, 2010
- Venezuela, Colombia liberalise bilateral trade - Nov 29, 2011
- Obama orders safety review of US n-plants - Mar 18, 2011
- Venezuela freezes prices of 18 products - Nov 23, 2011
- Chavez to return to Venezuela this week - Apr 24, 2012
- Chavez says his progress is favourable - Mar 13, 2012
- Venezuela, Argentina sign 25 accords - Apr 21, 2010
- Chavez vows to come back stronger after surgery - Feb 25, 2012
- Obama confident of US nuclear plants' safety - Mar 16, 2011
- Russia, Venezuela sign energy, defence deals - Apr 04, 2010
Tags: caracas, catastrophe, efe, entire world, explosions, fukushima, hugo chavez, magnitude 9, march 17, nuclear crisis, nuclear energy production, nuclear experts, nuclear meltdown, nuclear plant, nuclear power, president hugo chavez, reactor, reactors, venezuelan president hugo, venezuelan president hugo chavez