State governments in Australia should end their bans on uranium mining and exploration, which stand in the way of investments, jobs and exports, Prime
Minister John Howard said December 29.

    Howard said the final version of a task force's report released that day shows that "there are no sound reasons to prevent uranium mining in Australia and that the global growth in uranium demand provides a timely opportunity for Australia." A draft of the government-commissioned report, which reviewed uranium mining, processing and nuclear energy, was released in November. The final report said the earliest nuclear electricity could be delivered to the grid would be in 10 years, "with 15 years more probable." (Platts,2/1/2006)