Source - Bangkok Post (Eng)
June 07, 2006

Canberra-Prime Minister John Howard yesterday established a task
force to examine the possible introduction of nuclear power in Australia and
assess whether the country should begin enriching uranium for export.

The panel would examine the economic, security, health, safety and
environmental issues surrounding the establishment of nuclear power plants
in Australia, and the scope for increasing uranium mining, Mr Howard told a
news conference.

The task force would also review whether Australia should set up
enrichment plants so the country could begin exporting more valuable
enriched uranium.

"Australia does hold up to 40% of the world's known, low-cost,
recoverable uranium reserves and there is significant potential for
Australia to increase and add value to our uranium extraction and exports,"
Mr Howard said." I've always maintained that holding the reserves of uranium
that we do, it is foolish to see ourselves as simply an exporter of
uranium."

The task force, headed by respected nuclear physicist and former
boss of the country's telecommunications giant Telstra, Ziggy Switkowski,
would report by the end of the year, Mr Howard added.

Federal opposition leader Kim Beazley, whose Labor Party opposes
the introduction of nuclear power stations, said the government should focus
instead on developing renewable energy sources.

"We should not go down the road to nuclear power, that's where
John Howard wants to send us- make no mistake about that," he said.
Despite Australia's vast uranium reserves it falls behind Canada
in production because of the Labor Party's long standing policy of
restriction any new mining operations.

Although the party is in federal opposition, it controls all state
governments which in turn control all mining and exploration licences. Just
three uranium mines operate in Australia, where nuclear energy is a hot
political issue.

Mr Howard's government signed a nuclear safeguards agreement with
Beijing earlier this year, clearing the way for Australia to export uranium
to China.

There is widespread speculation that Canberra is considering a
deal to sell uranium to India, despite its ban on exporting the nuclear fuel
to countries that have not signed the nuclear Non Proliferation Treaty." I
don't predict any immediate change in our policy," Mr Howard said yesterday,
leaving the door open for a deal in the future.

Australia only exports uranium that has not been enriched, known
as yellowcake, but Mr Howard's government has indicated it would consider
enriching the fuel before export, allowing it to command a higher price. AFP

 

< Back