Ziggy spins: Japan accident will lead to safe nuclear reactors
EVEN IN EARTHQUAKE ZONES, NUCLEAR POWER IS STILL A SAFE OPTION – THE AUSTRALIAN, Ziggy Switkowski, 14 March 11, “…..If core cooling can be satisfactorily restored, then in the best case local residents could return to their homes in days.
Engineers have taken extraordinary steps to get coolant to the reactor of most concern, flooding the core with seawater…….. the combination of venting and seawater flushing should stabilise the situation in the days ahead….We will learn from the tragic Japanese experience how to build more robust reactors, how to ensure multiple layers of protection work properly, how to better contain radioactive gases.
Australia keen to sell uranium to Middle East, never mind the unrest there
“Doesn’t matter whether you’re a Communist dictatorship or a Middle Eastern Emirate” … “it seems Australia is more than happy to do the bidding of the uranium mining companies….a bad time to start selling uranium to the Middle East, given the unrest sweeping the area.”
Australia may sell uranium to UAE, Ipswich Queensland Times, Adam Gartrell, 9th March 2011 .Australian Greens Senator Scott Ludlam said the move was “profoundly unhelpful” to global non-proliferation efforts. AUSTRALIA is paving the way to sell uranium to the United Arab Emirates. 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
Business Council of Australia joins nuclear lobby’s marketing push
Business backs a ‘big’ Australia and nuclear energy Matthew Franklin, The Australian March 01, 2011 Big business has rejected Julia Gillard’s distaste for a big Australia, advocating strong population growth and calling for the use of nuclear energy to slash growth in carbon emissions.
The Business Council of Australia ….. report argues that the nation must consider all power sources to meet rising energy needs, including nuclear power ……Mr Burke yesterday would not comment on the submission, and Resources Minister Martin Ferguson refused to comment on the nuclear power call.
Huge job creating potential with carbon tax
Carbon tax ‘could create thousands of jobs’, ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation), By David Mark 28 Feb 2011, A new report says a price on carbon could create 34,000 new jobs in the renewable energy sector in regional Australia over the next two decades. Continue reading
Stacked pro nuclear panel, stacked audience, in Adelaide?
both the panel and the audience seemed to be composed entirely of nuclear energy supporters. Renewable energy was dismissed as irrelevant, there was virtually no mention of nuclear accidents, and Brook patronisingly dismissed community concerns about the location of nuclear plants as “juvenile”.
Greenhouse gas emissions linked to climate change, CPA – The Guardian, Peter Mac, 23 February 2011 ” ……. In a recent TV panel discussion (ABC 24, 19-02-2011), Adelaide University Professor Barry Brook argued strongly for Australia to develop a nuclear power industry based around fast nuclear reactors. Continue reading
Nuclear power financially out of the question for Australia
Judging by the US experience, a nuclear power industry would require huge government subsidies to produce energy at an affordable cost for consumers. …which insurance companies would agree to insure the nuclear industry without iron-clad government guarantees to underwrite the risks? Continue reading
Investment – superannuation funds should be going for renewable energy
Wrestling with a climate conundrum, Sydney Morning Herald, 19 Feb 2011, IT’S maddening. We have brilliant renewable energy resources, brilliant innovators and a vast pool of superannuation savings looking for opportunities beyond our overvalued, over-analysed, ticket-clipped top 50 listed companies.
We also have growing recognition that climate change poses a unique risk to traditional investment management strategies – particularly here in Australia, Continue reading
Uranium to India no advantage to Australian economy
Uranium sales constitute only a tiny fraction of total minerals export income. Lastly, the long resources boom, which has resulted in a national skills shortage and two-speed economy, pours cold water on any argument that we need uranium sales to sustain the sector, employment or the economy.
Uranium sales to India a recipe for regional insecurity Sydney Morning Herald, Leigh Hubbard February 18, 2011 “……..The drive by Martin Ferguson and Paul Howes to expand Australian uranium sales is based purely on the short-sighted goal of export dollars, cloaked in the guise of supporting regional energy development. But even in this regard, we know that the profits to Australia would not be significant. Continue reading
Egypt in turmoil: Wikileaks reveal nuclear plant contract details
Contract Signed for Egypt’s First Nuclear Plant – Telegraph, 16 Feb 2011, “.[Wikileaks] ………On June 18, 2009, [Australian company] WorleyParsons Ltd. signed a contract with the Egyptian Ministry of Electricity and Energy for the development of Egypt’s first Nuclear power plant. Ambassador Scobey, Australian Ambassador Stephanie Shwabsky, and Egyptian Prime Minister Dr. Ahmed Nazif were present at the signing along with Worley’s President, Ron McNeilly and Dr. Rames Khalil, Worley’s Regional Power Manager for Egypt and Africa…….Contract Signed for Egypt’s First Nuclear Plant – Telegraph
Paul Howes’ union lobbying for uranium industry
Martin Ferguson lobbying for uranium industry
BHP Billiton to decide on Olympic Dam expansion in 2012
BHP’s $US80 billion expansion plan over the next five years includes expanding its Olympic Dam copper and uranium mine in Australia, with a decision expected in 2012,…..
$2 billion wiped off the value of uranium miner ERA
Darwin-based miner was closing its Ranger uranium tailings dam for 12 weeks because heavy rain was expected for the rest of the wet season
Energy Resources of Australia tumbles as rain takes a heavy toll Matt Chambers The Australian * January 29, ENERGY Resources of Australia (ERA) suffered its biggest one-day share slump in two years, Continue reading
Electric cars – Australia could be a manufacturing leader
Australia, take note….How better to reinvigorate the Australian auto-industry, and cope with skyrocketing petrol expenses, than to evolve to the future of car-buyer demand, especially when it’s so clearly foreseeable? A switch to EV production is the inevitable solution……Are Australian-owned infrastructure companies missing out on a glaring opportunity under their very noses?
Don’t put the brake on electric vehicles in Oz January 24, 2011 Crikey, Alice Body The wheels aren’t just turning on the electric vehicle (EV); the whole industry is accelerating thanks to a major new initiative by the Chinese government. Continue reading
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