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| Down Under |
| John Howard seeks nuclear answers |
| 2006-06-04 |
| AUSTRALIA would need to build several nuclear power plants to meet greenhouse gas emission reduction targets and ensure the viability of any industry. As Prime Minister John Howard prepares to announce a wide-ranging inquiry into nuclear energy, the head of the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation, Ian Smith, has confirmed "at least three" power plants would be required. The Australian understands the Prime Minister is preparing to appoint chief scientist Jim Peacock, a supporter of nuclear power, to the inquiry panel. Cabinet will tomorrow consider the inquiry's terms of reference, which are expected to include an examination of economic viability and environmental dangers. "Are they affordable? Are they safe? What technological developments have been made and what methods are being worked on for the disposal of waste?" Mr Howard said yesterday. "Concerns about climate change and greenhouse gas emissions, the rising costs of energy and the possible availability of a cheaper source of fuel, will form the basis of our arguments for this debate. "Naturally, health, safety and proliferation issues will be crucial, including the potential of next-generation nuclear energy technologies to meet safety, waste and proliferation concerns; the waste processing and storage issues associated with nuclear energy and current world's best practice; and any security, safety or health issues emanating from nuclear energy," he said. Despite calling for an open debate, government ministers yesterday dismissed a submission to cabinet made nine years ago by then science minister Peter McGauran that lists 14 possible sites for a nuclear reactor, including the southwest Sydney suburb of Holsworthy, Mount Isa, south Darwin, Adelaide and Perth. Mr Howard said the ANSTO report, prepared by international energy consultant John Gittus, challenged the view that the cost of nuclear power was prohibitive. Opposition science spokeswoman Jenny Macklin seized on an admission by ANSTO executive director Dr Smith, who told a Senate estimates hearing last week that Australia would require "multiple power stations to make the industry viable". "John Howard wants to start a debate about nuclear power in this country, but he won't come clean on where any nuclear power stations will be," Ms Macklin said yesterday. The Weekend Australian reported that Foreign Minister Alexander Downer had called for a nuclear-powered desalination plant to be built in his home state of South Australia to curb pressure on the Murray River. Industry Minister Ian Macfarlane said the nuclear energy inquiry, which is expected to report by the end of the year, would include consideration of nuclear enrichment plants in Australia. And Mr Macfarlane said he would consider proposals for a nuclear power plant sited in his own Toowoomba-based electorate of Groom. However, Queensland Premier Peter Beattie pledged he would not jeopardise the state's coal industry by supporting a nuclear power plant. |
| Posted by:Oztralian |
| #1 Displacing coal The Premier of Queensland, Australia, some time ago said that he opposed the mining of uranium in his state because it could threaten the viability of the export coal industry. The uranium industry has proposed that one of our best lawyers draft a bilateral safeguards agreement between Queensland and any country which buys its uranium so that they pledge under pain of UN Security Council sanctions not to feed any of it into their coal-fired power stations. That should solve the problem and give peace of mind to the Premier. |
| Posted by: john 2006-06-04 20:33 |