The oil price and nuclear power

The consequences to the world economy and to the national economies affecte d of the most recent oil price increases are more severe now than they were twenty years ago. The price of crude oil, systematically raised by OPEC fi rst in 1973 and again in the eighties, provoked a rise especially of unempl oyment in the industrialized countries and slowed down economic growth by a considerable margin. However, it also initiated some redirection of energy supplies away from oil towards a diversified supply of coal, gas, and nucl ear power as well as measures of energy conservation. The consequences arising to the poor countries and the economic threshold c ountries have been much graver to this day. The gap has widened between exp ort revenues and import prices to be paid for urgently needed sources of pr imary energy; foreign debt has risen sharply. This has made the question of affordable energy supply a vital issue to the people concerned, it also co nstitutes a hazard to peace. In their own economic interest, and in a sense of ethical responsibility, t he industrialized countries should feel called upon to make sufficient ener gy available worldwide by means of an intelligent energy supply concept. Th is includes measures of efficient uses of energy as well as the utilization of all energy sources available, nuclear power included. In the light of t he risks associated with an insufficient worldwide energy supply. the risk of nuclear power must be assessed in a reasonable way. It is to be hoped th at a process of rethinking will begin also in Germany.