New nuclear plants require a new generation of nuclear physicists

The Economist : Much more than worries about safety, the biggest obstacle to therevival of nuclear power in Britain is the billion dollar cost says the Economist. During the recent run up in the price of oil to above $100, nuclear power looked competitive, but once oil drops below $60, the numbers to do add up. But the other obstacles to a nuclear renaissance consist of a global shortage of manufacturing capacity for important components and a severe shortage of qualified scientists, engineers and technicians.Cogent, an industry training body, reckons that between a fifth and a third of nuclear workers will retire in the next decade, just when their knowledge will be in greatest demand. The government forecasts that up to 1,500 workers need to be replaced every year merely to maintain the status quo. Decommissioning old reactors and building new ones will require 18,000 more over the next 20 years.