The Russian actions in Ukraine, and the threat that the conflict could spread to nearby countries, has focused renewed attention on energy security of supply. This was discussed in some depth in my comment in March 2011 ('Security of supply - how does nuclear enhance it?') as it is often mentioned as an important advantage of nuclear power. I pointed out then that one of the reasons why nuclear power appears to achieve a relatively high level of popular support the further east one goes in Europe (despite the proximity of these countries to Chernobyl, site of the 1986 accident) is the fear of over-dependence on oil and gas. Yet it isn't just these countries that have become dependent on Russia, and it is now conceivable that the merits of nuclear could be reconsidered in places where it was previously rejected.
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