No finance for impossibly costly nuclear power in Western Australia
why is it that no investor wants to put their own money into building a nuclear power station in Western Australia?….It’s not the environmental movement that is preventing nuclear power becoming available in Western Australia, it is merchant bankers!
The myth of Nuclear Energy for WA, Wangle April 4th, 2011 By Bill Johnston MLA The current situation in Japan has given pause to the calls from some people that nuclear energy will fix Western Australia’s energy problems. However, it will not be long before we see those comments beginning again.
This is accompanied by the implication that it is somehow the environmental movement that is holding back this nuclear energy nirvana. Continue reading
Western Australia: Black and White Unite Against Uranium Mining
“Uranium mining is not like any other mining, it poisons water, land and life through radiation. The mining industry and the government are trying to make people believe uranium mining is inevitable but we say No.”
“We Can’t Close the Gap by Digging a Deeper Hole” 4 April 11The Western Australia Nuclear Free Alliance (WANFA), made up of Aboriginal Traditional Land Owners from the Pilbara, the Kimberley, the Goldfields, the Great Victoria Desert, the Central Desert, the Gascoyne, and the South West and their allies, met from 2 – 4 April 2011 on Whadjuk Boodjak (Noongar Land) near Perth.
The meeting was the first gathering of Western Australian traditional owners since the continuing nuclear emergency at Fukushima in Japan and comes against a backdrop of increasing contest over plans for uranium mining in WA. Continue reading
Greens will fight to save Pilbara environment from uranium mining
it is a pristine natural area and it has environmentally sensitive wetlands in the vicinity,” Senator Ludlam said.
The risk of ground water and wetland contamination made it one of the worst possible sites for a uranium mine, he said.
Greens urge govt to block Pilbara uranium, Sydney Morning Herald, Andrea Hayward March 29, 2011 The Greens have vowed to fight a Canadian company’s bid to mine uranium in Western Australia but hope the federal government will reject the proposal on environmental grounds.
Canadian uranium company determined to mine in W.A.
Senator Ludlam said that this week’s bid to win approval was “particularly provocative” because it involved a Canadian-Japanese venture proposing to mine uranium while a nuclear plant in Japan was smouldering.
Cameco uranium push goes on * Andrew Burrell * The Australian * March 31, 2011 CANADIAN uranium giant Cameco is pushing ahead with plans to win government approvals for its Kintyre uranium project in Western Australia despite opposition from the Greens and doubts over long-term demand for the fuel since Japan’s nuclear crisis. Continue reading
Canadian company to transport uranium through W.A.
The transport risk study will be conducted by the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation…..The public comment period on the Cameco environmental scoping document closes on April 11
Cameco’s long uranium trek through WA | Perth Now, Nick Evans, March 28, 2011 CAMECO Corporation has pushed on with its plans to seek environmental approval for its WA uranium mine, despite turmoil on the international uranium stage after the recent disaster in Japan.The company released its environmental scoping document today, calling for public submissions on its plans to gain environmental approval for the proposed uranium mine, southeast of Port Hedland…… Continue reading
Australia touted as global centre for uranium industry
in WA last week the state Labor Party announced it would review its anti-nuclear stance, with a report due to be released in June………nuclear power and the uranium industry is not going to be hit as hard as many thought even a fortnight ago.
Uranium watch shows the future is still nuclear, Sydney Morning Herald James KirbyMarch 27, 2011 “..….Australia is a global centre of uranium production. Continue reading
Cameco’s managing director enthusiastic about race to mine uranium in Western Australia
Reilly said. “There will be lessons learned from the events in Japan, and the market may take a breather. But the long-term fundamentals, we believe, are very strong.”…Kintyre’s approvals timeline pits Cameco against several other companies – including BHP Billiton – aiming to develop Western Australia’s first uranium mine.
Cameco pushes on with Australian uranium plans The Australian, Stephen Bell March 17, 2011 CAMECO Corp will push ahead with plans to gain approvals for its Kintyre uranium project in Western Australia by 2013, despite doubts over long-term demand for the nuclear fuel following radiation leaks at reactors in eartquake-hit Japan. Continue reading
Western Australian minister touting for uranium mining investment from Canadians
Moore’s next stop before hitting PDAC will be Saskatchewan where, at the invitation of uranium miner Cameco, he will tour one of that company’s uranium mines.
Western Australia minister stops in Vancouver to sell Canadians on mining Down Under By Derrick Penner, Vanouver Sun March 4, 2011 “……”Australia has almost a two-speed economy,” Moore said. “Those [states] that have large resource projects are going gangbusters at the moment whereas other states that rely more on manufacturing are pretty flat.” Continue reading
W.A. govt downgrading potential of renewable energy
WA urged to unlock renewable energy potential – ABC South West WA – Australian Broadcasting Corporation, 5 March 11, The Sustainable Energy Association says the State Government needs to be more ambitious about Western Australia’s renewable energy plans.A directions paper called ‘Energy 2031’ has been released to discuss how Western Australia will meet its growing energy requirements over the next 20 years.The paper has been drafted by the Office of Energy and government departments.The association’s chief executive, Ray Wills, says the Government’s plans should be aiming to unlock WA’s vast renewable energy resources.”This document tends to think about barriers instead of thinking about opportunities, this document tends to discount the ability of renewable energy to deliver and worries more about the threats that might occur from failing to plan into the future,” he said. WA urged to unlock renewable energy potential – ABC South West WA – Australian Broadcasting Corporation
Precious groundwater at risk from uranium mining
The conservation council’s Mia Pepper says mining for uranium in Wiluna’s dry climate could be disastrous for local water supplies.
With uranium mining, water uptake is always a really big issue, in a dry and arid area recharge of groundwater is also a problem but the biggest issue is radioactive tailings from uranium mining which will inevitably contaminate groundwater with other uranium mines around Australia,” she said.
Miner urged to rethink uranium plans – ABC North West WA – Australian Broadcasting Corporation, 16 Feb 2011, The Conservation Council of WA says a mining company which has begun testing for uranium, near Wiluna in the mid-west Western Australia, should consider the environmental impacts of its proposed exploration. Continue reading
WA is ideal for small scale Concentrated Solar Power, with energy storage
small scale parabolic dish forms of CSP can provide a local, renewable alternative to non-renewable energy sources transmitted from outside the area…..In a CSP based facility, heat can also be stored for electricity generation after dark and on days when the sun doesn’t shine by using a heat storage system such as a molten salt battery.
Western Australia’s Concentrated Solar Power Potential Renewable Energy News :by Energy Matters. 18 Jan 2011, Researchers from the University of Western Australia say Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) technologies have excellent potential to generate clean, renewable electricity for communities and mining operations throughout the state’s vast Wheatbelt. Continue reading
Solar power the answer for regional Western Australia
Solar gives good electricity, Science Alert, 14 January 2011 A study by researchers from The University of Western Australia has confirmed the potential for Concentrated Solar Power to generate electricity for communities and mining interests across the Wheatbelt. Continue reading
Nuclear power, an obsolete industry that is winding down
There are nine fewer nuclear power stations operating
worldwide today than there were in 2002. There are 33 fewer nuclear power stations in Europe now than there were in 1989. The US has not built one in 36 years and the Japanese have virtually stopped building them.
Nuclear industry has no future, Mr Barnett – The West Australian, by Scott Ludlam January 13th, 2011, Premier Colin Barnett said last month that nuclear power was a “proved and safe source of energy” …….. In reality, there is no global nuclear renaissance, and we should hope there never will be. Since the early 1980s, the industry has been sinking under the weight of the vast costs of this obsolete and risky technology. Continue reading
W.A. govt ready to over-ride Aboriginal landowners’ rights
The rightful traditional owners have been promised a generous benefits package whether the project proceeds with their consent or not.
Another native title claim over gas hub land – ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation) 12 Jan 2011, A third over-lapping native title claim has been lodged over the land chosen for the $30 billion gas hub in Western Australia’s Kimberley. Continue reading
Perth a nuclear target
Perth ‘on nuclear front line’ | Herald Sun, January 01, 2011, PERTH could face increased risk of Soviet nuclear attack under plans to allow US warships to be based in Australia, Cabinet documents from 1980 reveal.But the then defence minister Jim Killen had earlier told Parliament that Australia, a strong US ally, was likely to be a nuclear target in any case……Australia also offered the US use of Darwin to land B-52 bombers flying from Guam on surveillance missions over the Indian Ocean...Perth ‘on nuclear front line’ | Herald Sun
1 This month
of the week – Australians for War Powers Reform (AWPR)
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