Antinuclear

Australia doesn’t need nukes: International Energy Agency boss

AFR, Hans van Leeuwen, Europe correspondent, 10 May 24

Paris | Australia does not need to join the global nuclear energy renaissance, and should focus on its advantages in renewable energy, the head of the International Energy Agency says.

In an interview with AFR Weekend in Paris, Fatih Birol, one of the world’s most influential energy officials, challenged the Coalition’s plan to make nuclear power a centrepiece of Australian energy policy.

“When I look around the world, nuclear is making a strong comeback. I have been a proponent of nuclear for many years,” he said.

“But if there is a country that has a lot of resources from other sources, such as solar and wind, I wouldn’t see nuclear as a priority option. I’m talking about Australia now.”

The IEA supported France, Britain and Japan making a renewed push on nuclear, Dr Birol said. But the time frame for starting a nuclear industry from scratch, as Australia would have to, was too long. “For Australia, we have other priorities to push,” he said.

He said this also applied to small modular reactors, which are less costly to build but are not yet commercially proven.

“If we get these small, modular reactors technologically and economically competitive by the mid-2030s, it would be good news,” he said.

But for Australia, “you’ve seen a lot of untapped potential in solar and wind – in Australia I would put the priority on those technologies”.

Dr Birol said he was aware that energy security and the clean-energy transition was a hotly contested issue in Australia.

“In Australia you have a lot of discussions on those things. I hope the discussions can be made more factual, less emotional and political,” he said.

Dr Birol, who has led the IEA since 2015, has turned the Paris-based agency into a major champion of the energy transition and the net zero agenda…………………………………………………………………….. more https://www.afr.com/policy/energy-and-climate/australia-doesn-t-need-nukes-international-energy-agency-boss-20240510-p5jcge

May 11, 2024 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | Uncategorized