Antinuclear

Korean nuclear scandal adds to poor outlook for Australia’s uranium indcustry

Korean nuclear scandal should trigger inquiry. 9 November 2012.  A nuclear scandal in South Korea dealt another blow to the crumbling global nuclear industry this week but the Federal Government’s Energy White Paper appears blissfully ignorant, the Greens said today

Greens nuclear policy spokesperson Senator Scott Ludlam said the Government needs to conduct a comprehensive, public independent assessment of the risks posed by Australian uranium given scandals in Korea and Japan.

“If uranium advocates really believe our current system is adequate they will have nothing to fear and everything to gain from an inquiry into the adequacy of Australian safeguards and whether they address utility transparency and competence in receiver nations.

“In the energy White Paper, the Government claims the mass nuclear reactor shut-downs in Europe and Japan will be offset in part by a handful of new plants in South Korea. This week it was announced that South Korea’s nuclear watchdog will investigate every nuclear power station in the country amid a scandal that has forced the closure of two reactors and the resignation of the head of the state power company.

“On Monday the South Korean Government revealed that the safety certificates for more than 7,600 items procured for two nuclear plants over the past nine years had been forged.  This is the customer Minister Ferguson sees as the saviour of Australia’s uranium exports.

“Two more nuclear reactors were closed in Belgium after a new testing method revealed metal stress and fatigure.  Germany, Switzerland and Japan are closing their nuclear sectors completely. In a recent referendum 96 per cent of Italians voted no to any new nuclear stations.  150 nuclear plants are marked for closure in Europe alone.

“Nuclear power is well into its phase of terminal decline – and the booming renewable energy sector is helping hasten its demise.”

November 10, 2012 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | General News