Antinuclear

“Gen 3” nuclear reactors are duds, but unproven Gen 4 a “public good”!

Intriguing that even the uranium industry is now being told that the Olkiluoto-3 ‘Generation III+’ nuke reactor is a dud. But never mind, the Australian government should support (?fund) the as yet undeveloped and untested Generation IV nuclear reactors!

Addressing the first day of the 2010 Paydirt Australian Uranium Conference, Professor Tony Owen, Director of the UCL School of Energy and Resources in Adelaide, – “In particular, we need to try and have an input in the new Generation IV plants being developed…“Generation IV research and development is still characterised as a public good and therefore Federal support is justified, just as it has been with CCS. In this context, Australian membership of the Generation IV International Forum would be a prudent decision.”

Professor Owen noted that the ongoing construction of Finland’s landmark Olkiluoto-3 ‘Generation III+’ nuclear reactor was a poor advertisement for the industry – with long delays and cost blowouts that have seen the construction bill nearly double to €5.3 billion.

March 2, 2010 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | AUSTRALIA - NATIONAL, spinbuster, uranium | antinuclear, Australia, nuclear, nuclear costs, nuclear wastes, radioactive, uranium