REFILE-Chile's nuclear decision to take years-Bachelet
25 Sep 2007 19:11:16 GMT Source: Reuters
(Refiles to correct spelling of Michelle in first paragraph) NEW YORK, Sept 25 (Reuters) - Chile's President Michelle Bachelet said on Tuesday her government was still studying its nuclear energy development options, but warned it will be for the next government to make a decision as studies could take up to eight years. "I will do all the work, the next government will have all the studies needed," she said. "The (International Atomic Energy Agency) told us that it takes sometimes eight years to make a good decision, specifically in a country that has as many earthquakes as Chile," Bachelet added. The next Chilean government is due to take office in 2010, making it impossible for Bachelet to make the final decision of pursuing nuclear energy during her presidency. "But at least I can say I have taken the responsibility to view all the possibilities," she said. Chile, the strongest economy in Latin America and one of the healthiest among emerging countries worldwide, is strongly dependent on its neighbors for its energy needs. Copper mining, its main economic activity, is extremely energy-sensitive. Bachelet, speaking at a gathering organized by the Americas Society/Council of the Americas, during the United Nations General Assembly meetings in New York this week, said that all arguments for or against nuclear energy are being discussed. She also said viability studies were being done on solar, biomass and wind-power energy. Chile currently depends on Argentina for natural gas imports, but its eastern neighbor is struggling to supply its domestic market. Gas-rich Bolivia, which plans to quadruple its gas output to Argentina in the next two-and-a-half years, refuses to sell gas to Chile because of a dispute over Bolivia's sea access.
