Australia could have a nuclear power reactor in operation in as little as ten years

2006-12-01

Australia could have a nuclear power reactor in operation in as little as ten years - although 15 years is more probable - and could potentially have up to 25 nuclear power reactors in operation by 2050, supplying one-third of the country’s electricity, according to the government task-force set up to study the nuclear energy industry. In a draft version of a report commissioned by Prime Minister John Howard, the task-force says that ‘nuclear power is the least-cost low-emission technology that can provide base-load power’ and has low life cycle impacts environmentally. The report also includes support for increased uranium mining and export. However, although conversion and enrichment of that uranium would add significantly to its export value and impediments to that should be removed, the commercial prospect is not attractive, the report says. The draft report is intended to contribute to a wide-ranging public debate on energy technologies and the potential role of nuclear energy. The report addresses the economic, environmental, health, safety and proliferation issues associated with uranium mining, processing and nuclear energy. A final report will be completed by the end of 2006. The full draft report is available on the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet’s website. (WNA,21/11/2006)