Antinuclear

Nuclear power and the Australian Economy – theme for September 2013

In Australia, discussion of the economics of nuclear power is strangely quarantined from the global discussion. Under the influence and ignorance of politicians, corporate bosses, and the Murdoch media, economic information about nuclear power is marvellously skewed away from the truth.

We just don’t get to hear about the collapsing nuclear industry in America, the agonies over nuclear costs in the UK,  the movement away from nuclear in Europe, and doubts over nuclear economics, in Asia.   The renewed emergency at Fukushima now adds to the dimming prospects for the nuclear industry

The “spot” price for uranium plunges ever downward. The “term” or contract price now tends downward, too.  Australian uranium mining companies are hanging on like grim death, waiting for the fabled “nuclear renaissance” that never comes.  They are bolstered by a subservient media, that seems to swallow the line that – uranium prices are so near the bottom – it is proof that that they must come up. Must they, really?

Nuclear power for Australia is a crackpot idea. You get people like Martin Nicholson advocating it as an economically viable industry. He spews out impressive figures. But he doesn’t mention what climate change is likely to do to nuclear reactors (they have to be near water). Doesn’t mention costs of waste disposal, costs of endless security. And of course – the big one – that renewable energy is fuelled for free, can co-exist with farming, can be erected quickly in small scale methods, and relatively quickly in large scale, – and does not degrade the soil underneath.

The Australian nuclear lobby might seem impressive. But – it is made up of separate wrangling interests, competing with each other.

August 22, 2013 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | Christina themes