Scrapping of new Olympic Dam mine a sign of nuclear industry in terminal decline
Politics wrap: SMH, Katharine Murphy August 22, 2012 “….John Howard had first suggested pricing carbon,
not the current Prime Minister Julia Gillard.
After Question Time, mining giant BHP Billiton said it would delay a planned expansion at Olympic Dam.
The company cited commercial factors. Resources Minister Martin Ferguson cited commercial factors.
Mr Abbott cited the carbon and mining taxes.
The Greens cited Fukushima…. The Greens see the Olympic Dam decision as a reflection not on Australian taxes but on the future of the nuclear industry: in critical condition post Fukushima. Greens nuclear policy spokesperson Senator Scott Ludlam: The nuclear industry globally is in terminal decline, contributing to the business case against the Olympic Dam expansion.
Since the Fukushima disaster, Germany, Belgium and Switzerland have announced a complete nuclear phase-out. Egypt, Italy, Jordan, Kuwait, and Thailand have cancelled projects. New proposals for plants in Brazil, France, India, and the USA were cancelled. Now it seems the industry may be headed for a phase-out in Japan as well……
: http://www.smh.com.au/opinion/politics/blogs/the-pulse/politics-wrap-august-22-2012-20120822-24lcj.html#ixzz24LpmHHt5
BHP scraps plans for Olympic Dam gigantic new uranium mine
BHP cancels $30 billion Olympic Dam expansion near Roxby Downs in South Australia Outback Business Writer Meredith Booth AdelaideNow August 22, 2012 BHP Billiton has shelved its $30 billion Olympic Dam expansion and will go back to the drawing board to find a cheaper alternative….
.. However, BHP chief executive Marius Kloppers today insisted market conditions, subdued commodity prices and higher capital costs led to the decision, which has been the subject of speculation within several months.
“As we finalised the details of the project … it became clear that the right decision for the company and its shareholders was to continue studies to develop a less capital-intensive option to replace the underground mine at Olympic Dam,” Mr Kloppers said…….
The mine would have become the world’s biggest open cut copper and uranium mine at six kilometres long and one kilometre deep.
The news came as BHP Billiton announced a 21 per cent fall in annual profit of $US17.1 billion…… Mineral Resources and Energy Minister Tom Koutsantonis said BHP had made a decision based on international factors.
“South Australia unfortunately, even though we did everything right … forces outside of our control took over,” he said.“These resources aren’t going anywhere .
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