Can we trust nuclear scientists to tell the truth about nuclear technology?
Yes, it’s all very exciting. Obama’s Nuclear Security Summit has made some moves in the direction of nuclear security.
And, yes, it’s a blow to uranium mining shares, now that old weapons fuel is going to be turned into low enriched uranium, and sold cheaply as fuel for nuclear reactors.
BUT – what an opportunity for nuclear scientists, like say ANSTO, to spruik their wares – in recycling, reprocessing technology! And now we’re gonna need some gee-whiz answer to highly radioactive wastes – like say ANSTO ‘s Synroc. (Never mind that all countries decided over 30 years ago that it really wouldn’t work)
ANSTO hoping to get into a lucrative nuclear waste disposal business
Australia ‘to lead in N-waste treatment’April 15, 2010 – New Internationalist Australia is poised to lead the world in providing technology to clean up dangerous nuclear waste, the head of the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (ANSTO) has announced in the US. Continue reading
Now use of weapons fuel sends uranium price plummeting
Greens welcome fall in uranium price, Scott Ludlam 15th April 2010, The Australian Greens have welcomed this week’s fall in global uranium prices, due to a global peace deal to reduce nuclear weapons.“When world leaders sign off agreements to reduce their weapons arsenals the uranium market becomes flooded with weapons-usable nuclear fuel,” the Party’s Nuclear Spokesperson, WA Senator Scott Ludlam said…. Continue reading
Australian Govt likely to override Senate recommendations on radioactive waste dump
Labor’s Nuclear-Powered Steamroller, newmatilda.com, By Jennifer Mills 16 April 2010, “……… On Monday, the Senate inquiry into the National Radioactive Waste Management Bill 2010 held its final hearing in Darwin. The inquiry has been underway since September and is expected to deliver its recommendations by the end of the month. Those recommendations are not expected to favour the proposed dump site at Muckaty Station near Tennant Creek. But the Bill may be passed anyway, which would turn the site selection into a magically done deal. Continue reading
But anyway, Gareth Evans is right about nuclear fuel recycling.
In a perfect world. the plan to send enriched uranium and plutonium to USA and Russia, to fuel nuclear reactors, might be part of a good move. That would be the move to wind down all nuclear power plants. ( but I doubt that this is the intended plan)
It would also put a stop to the dirty dangerous industry of uranium mining.
However, Gareth Evans points out that recycling nuclear fuel simply creates new stockpiles of very dirty, very dangerous, radioactive wastes. Sure, Gareth Evans’ point of view promotes Australia’s uranium mining companies. But he’s right, anyway.
Gareth Evans against recycling nuclear fuel, and FOR Australian uranium miners
Mr Evans and a former US ambassador-at-large, Robert Gallucci, said recycling created stockpiles of dangerous materials ripe for theft……...
Recycling fuel should end: Evans, Sydney Morning Herald, April 15, 2010, WASHINGTON: A former Australian foreign minister, Gareth Evans, was at the centre of a dispute over reactor suppliers recycling nuclear fuel even as US officials sought to skirt the issue during a summit in Washington organised by the President, Barack Obama. Continue reading
Like AREVA, nuclear energy company Silex buys into solar power
But the purchase leaves households interested in buying solar panels with a dilemma: by buying Australian-made panels, they are indirectly investing in nuclear energy as well.
Solar panel factory sees the sun again, Sydney Morning Herald BEN CUBBY, April 14, 2010 – THE biggest solar-panel factory in the southern hemisphere is to open in Sydney this morning – after it was rescued by a nuclear energy research company. Continue reading
Defence Minister says Australia Backs Nuclear Summit Security Plan
“We converted from highly enriched uranium to low-enriched uranium based technologies for research reactor fuel and radioisotope production.
Australia backs US nuclear meet outcome, Sydney Morning Herald, April 14, 2010 Defence Minister John Faulkner, who has been attending a nuclear security summit hosted by US President Barack Obama, says Australia welcomes the call to secure all vulnerable nuclear material within four years……. Continue reading
Review: Nuclear Security Summit, India’s radiation contamination
Review: Australia. A puzzling week as Australia pretty much ignored the Nuclear Security Summit. Uranium prices plummet with Obama’s plan to use old nuke weapons for commercial fuel. Traditional Muckaty owners front Senate Inquiry. BHP’s Olympic Dam still severely disabled. Legal victory for S.A. uranium protestors.
International. Nuclear summit – some progress, but not on disarmament. USEC company gets a boost with ‘Megatons to Megawatts’ (dead nuke weapons fuel for reactors). India has two incidents of radiation leaks and poisoning.
Yes, why isn’t Rudd at the Nuclear Summit?
Not much Australian media coverage of the Nuclear Summit either. Not a word on ABC Television last night.
Could it be that Rudd’s corporate backers, like BHP Billiton, are not very keen on Obama’s plan to get old nuclear weapons turned into fuel for commercial nuclear reactors? Perhaps Rudd would rather not be seen to be joining in undermining the uranium mining industry?
Obama, Rudd, speak on nuclear security
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Australia’s PM won’t be at world nuclear summit Radio Australia,April 9, 2010 Presenter: Linda Mottram
Speakers: Barack Obama, U-S President; Kevin Rudd, Australia’s Prime Minister; Rory Medcalf, director, International Security Program, Lowy Institute for International Policy
Radio Australia:Connect Asia:Story:Australia’s PM won’t be at world nuclear summit
Why is Australia so quiet about the Nuclear Summit?
It would appear to be irresponsible for Australia not to be represented at leadership level when the full security implications of the nuclear fuel cycle are being debated
Australia’s PM won’t be at world nuclear summit Radio Australia,April 9, 2010 “……… Still, some say it’s crucial that Mr Rudd goes to Washinton next week. Continue reading
Rudd conspicuously absent at Nuclear Summit
Faulkner dismisses any suggestion Rudd’s absence means Australia is not taking the issue seriously
Bombs away, The Age, by Daniel Flitton, April 13, 2010……there is also the remote prospect that terrorists might improvise a nuclear device themselves, either a crude atomic weapon or a ”dirty bomb”, spreading radioactive material with conventional explosives. Continue reading
Aboriginal clans at Senate Inquiry oppose nuclear waste dump
Although the Ngapa people nominated the land for the dump, they were just one of the traditional owners, and other clans oppose the development
“It merely continues the Howard government’s process that forces a waste dump on the Northern Territory and traditional owners who don’t want it.”
Sidelined’ indigenous leaders to front nuclear inquiry , Tradingroom.com.au April 12 2010, Traditional owners who oppose a nuclear waste dump in central Australia will tell a Senate committee hearing in Darwin their wishes have been overlooked. Continue reading
Nuclear disarmament program could spell the end of uranium mining
Back in 2009, President Obama ordered a measure to help the ailing uranium industry – to lift the price of uranium.
He ordered a halt to the program to use weapons grade uranium from old nuclear weapons as fuel for copmmercial nuclear reactors.
Now, that program is to be re-started, and with the aim of spreading this use of old military uranium as nuclear fuel – to Russia , and the world – as part of the nuclear disarmament program.
In which case, – nobody would need new mined uranium!
1 This month
of the week – Australians for War Powers Reform (AWPR)
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