A forum to discuss the introduction of nuclear energy as an alternative to gas and oil for Bermuda will take place on May 9.

The forum entitled, "Nuclear Energy For Bermuda?" will take place at the Bermuda Underwater Exploration Institute (BUEI) from 2 to 5 p.m. followed by a reception until 6 p.m.

The main speaker and panellist is Gert Claasen, a Nuclear Industry Association of South African secretariat and a representative of the power company, Pebble Bed Modular Reactor Limited (PBMR).

The company was established in 1999 with the intention to develop and market small-scale high-temperature reactors both locally in South Africa and internationally.

South Africa has used nuclear energy as a major strategy to help solve its energy problems. Part of the strategy is to build nuclear reactors providing power outputs equivalent to those currently required by Bermuda. The power plants are modular and therefore can be increased in size as demand increased.

The forum is sponsored in part by Freisenbruch Meyer. For more information go to www.PBMR.com or call Mike Hardy, Forum Coordinator on 541-9893, or email him at mhardy@northrock.bm