Nuclear knowledge management in Thailand

Energy from fossil fuels is reaching its limits. The prospective technologies for long term supply of the world economy with energy on a sustainable basis are varied, with widely differing promises and problems. In recent years, advocates from the Government of Thailand have promoted the use of renewable sources (such as biomass or hydropower) and inexhaustible resources (such as solar energy and wind power) as the solution to the oil crisis problem. In addition, the continued and increasing use of fossil fuels is causing the problem of carbon dioxide emission and its potential impact on the climate. In the absence of public policies that promote renewable energy, Thailand is viewing nuclear energy as an alternative source for tomorrow's energy requirements. In order to play a significant role along with other energy sources, nuclear technology must be recognized by the public as a mature and safe technology. Nuclear knowledge management together with promotional policies from both the government and private sector will determine the possibility of nuclear energy becoming an alternative source for Thailand. Nuclear knowledge management is being carried out at several institutes in Thailand, including Chlalongkorn University, Kasetsart University, Office of Atoms for Peace (OAP), Department of Alternative Energy Development and Efficiency (AEDE) and Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (EGAT). At present, most of the support regarding nuclear knowledge management in Thailand is coming from the IAEA, European Union member States, the Republic of Korea, India, China, the Russian Federation and Japan. Current measures to raise the awareness of the public on nuclear issues include cooperation between the universities and dissemination of information from sources, such as the IAEA International Nuclear Information System, and the Asian Nuclear Safety Network (ANSN). (author)