A few days ago I read a piece in The Engineer about various alternatives for UK nuclear.
The situation over Britain’s proposed fleet of new nuclear reactors can charitably be described as a mess, and it isn’t one that looks likely to be tidied up any time soon.
An interesting start but painfully familiar. Further on there is a mention of Liquid Fuelled Thorium Reactors (LFTRs) and opportunities for the UK to involve itself in what may turn out to be an important nuclear development.
If it’s true that the UK is incapable of developing a fighter jet on its own (and we gave our opinion on that a few months ago) then it must surely be beyond our capability to sort out all the problems with LFTR development. But there are interested parties in the US and thorium research is underway in China: this sounds like a prime candidate for a multinational research effort, something which would probably be more palatable to many than the current proposed Chinese investment in UK nuclear.
What struck me was not so much the content of the piece, but the political realities illustrated by the above photo. These two guys are supposed to have our hopes for the future on their shoulders.
We must be mad.
3 comments:
I would guess that the engineering problems are as nothing compared with the legal, political, administrative and financing barriers and the herds of consultants, advisers, lobbyists etc etc who will want their share of the bunce. I fear modern society has reached an impasse. The over-numerous Middle Class has to be employed and creating up barriers is their way to do it.
The Engineer has a lot of interesting material. Perhaps we ought to elect more engineers and a lot less political scientists.
Roger - yes, there are too many of them. There are probably too many professional qualifications chasing too few worthwhile occupations. Being part of the problem MPs don't see it.
Demetrius - we should have more engineers in politics, but would good engineers be drawn to it? Not if they have to mix it with the current rabble.
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